Posted by Mr. Mead
Interviews and Pictures by Parker Reed
Have you seen students lack the confidence to interact with one another?
“This has been sporadic and particular with individual students, but I have observed many students who interact with each other differently than before the pandemic. Especially last year with remote learning and the transition to in person learning. There were students who were extremely shy and reserved online then were quite outgoing and personable when we returned to school. Also, there were students who would be the center of attention online, but would not speak a word after coming into the building.”
Are group discussions and projects hard to get started because people have lost their social skills?
“There has definitely been a learning curve to getting back into the swing of normal classroom routines and behaviors. Being with twenty-something peers and having to wait until called on to speak has been difficult for students. Group projects are difficult because of social distancing and sharing materials guidelines. I would not say people have lost their social skills, it is just that the way people interact with each other has changed.”
From what you can tell, are students nervous about being around so many people?
“From what I have observed, no. Students overwhelmingly have been excited to be back in school and around people. It is nice to get a break from it all sometimes, but the original lockdown required more isolation than most people could handle.”
Are masks affecting the way students learn?
“Masks make it difficult for students to read each other and for the quieter students to be heard. Unfortunately, there really is not an alternative to having this many people in a room during the pandemic. It is our safest option right now.”
Have you seen that kids are more aware of their own capabilities?
“Kids always surprise themselves at how capable they are. A little confidence goes a long way with a student in middle school.”
In what ways has COVID been a negative effect on students and how has it been positive?
“The negative effects revolve around how scary it is. A virus that caused this much death is heartbreaking to be living in. The idea that anyone can get it can be extremely frightening for students and adults.
Any positive effect is difficult to find. To think optimistically, it seems to have brought the best out of some students. Students who took the challenge of remote learning head on and relished the opportunity to do something new will be better for it and more prepared for the future. For the most part, all students have become digitally literate. This is true for teachers as well, but kids pick up this stuff much quicker than adults. Hopefully this in turn creates adults who are more responsible online, especially with social media.”
The Maroon 