During the COVID case surge in MCPS schools, many students and parents question whether academic instruction should remain in-person. MoCo Student conducted a survey to collect opinions on whether or not school should transition to virtual. The question was met with varying responses.
Out of those surveyed, it was 50-50 in terms of whether or not the respondents felt comfortable with the rising cases. A slim majority was in favor of virtual school over remaining in-person. One 6th grader at Francis Scott Key Middle School reported that there are frequent COVID cases at his school, and he has already been quarantined twice. The isolation, he says, “makes it harder for the kids to learn and for the parents to be able to support us.” Another student wishes for school to continue in-person but “it could compromise the safety of my family if I am not careful,” he claims. A Cabin John Middle School (CJMS) parent adds that the continuation of in-person learning would cause her family “lots of anxiety.”
Despite the amount of students who were in quarantine during the surge, many still felt that remaining in-person for school is relevant. One student remarks that virtual school “does make it safer than in person but I think in person would be a better option than virtual learning.” Robert Frost parent, Tram Lam says, “I’m focused on the well-being of my children and the importance of having in-person interactions with teachers and peers.” With school remaining in-person, she says, “there would be positive emotional/mental impact on my child.” However, virtual school would have a severe and negative effect according to many. A CJMS 8th grader, Qwyen Le, predicts “it would completely turn back into 2021 when everyone was just trapped in their houses. I feel like a lot of students would end up slacking off and end up having severe grades, struggling, etc.” Another CJMS 8th Grader, Jocelyne Widjaja envisions, “it would be lonely.”
On the other hand, virtual school and in-person school aren’t the only options for the school system to handle the COVID spike. Many have suggested improved and more drastic COVID protocol. One parent proposes, “If MCPS is unable to provide sufficient staffing of teachers and bus drivers, [they] should consider short-term virtual instruction and/or rolling closures of schools.” So far, MCPS has been closing schools one at a time. In addition, safety protocols, such as social distancing, were only mandated in theory but were observed to have been loosely enforced in schools. “They always talk about it… but it’s only been implemented for around a week.” Another popular idea was requiring higher quality masks, specifically KN95s. Despite the fact that MCPS has been providing students and parents with free KN95 masks, many still choose not to wear them.
As concern spreads among MCPS families, the public school system assures its students and parents that it has the situation under control. For instance, at Winston Churchill High School, PPE and sanitizer are offered at various stations around the building. As of January, the school’s principal, John Taylor, reported the rapid decrease of Coronavirus cases from 8% to around 2.5%. It’s important to keep looking forward, Le reminds us, “as long as we continue to follow safety procedures,…I think we’ll be okay…We still live on as it is.”
Article by Huan Changvu of Cabin John Middle School
Graphic by Julianne Cruz of Richard Montgomery High School