What a difficult time for students! As a parent, grandparent, former assistant superintendent and principal I am so disheartened to see some public schools open and many still closed. I cannot rationalize why private schools in my own community are open and yet the public school on my block is still closed for daily instruction. The disparity between the public and private worlds just seems to widen and the public students have lost precious instructional time that will be difficult to recoup. Miranda Devine recently reported that “American students ranked eighth in reading, 11th in science and 30th in math in the latest scores from the Program for International Student Assessment, which tests 15-year-olds every three years.” Yet even with the limitation of in-class instruction, the state of Virginia is planning to eliminate accelerated math. Why do we continue to reduce educational standards and add additional affective pieces to the curriculum?
Virtual and hybrid instructional programs severely limit the instructional venue for all students because that relationship between student and teacher is significantly curtailed or even eliminated. The teacher/student relationship is the foundation for effective instruction. How easy it is for students to “pretend” that they are part of the educational give and take in a classroom when they are on Zoom. This is true when classrooms operate during a regular school year, but it is significantly worse during virtual/hybrid instruction. What a disservice to our students!
This is especially true for students with learning challenges. Special needs students require intense one-on-one instruction by specially trained educators. This is challenging work but essential to ensure the development of effective literacy and math skills. Students with learning challenges that hamper their cognitive growth need trained educators to traverse their very challenging road. Learning disability specialists, physical therapists, speech pathologists and occupation therapists must meet with students on a regular basis to simultaneously create a strong educational relationship and to provide them with effective strategies for success.
With the new federal infusion of funds to education and with educational voids this year, we must ensure that qualified instructors are trained to meet learning challenges throughout the calendar year. This year, we must schedule comprehensive summer programs to help special students meet their challenges. Special needs students in both public and private schools must be serviced this summer through comprehensive academic programs that infuse instruction with recreation. Both academic and affective programs are needed. Services should be offered throughout July and August on a daily basis so that students begin to recap the instructional time that was eliminated or curtailed this year.
As parents and educational advocates, we must ensure that school districts redefine the school year to address the voids that were commonplace during this pandemic.
Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum is a retired educator of public and private schools.
