Distance Learning: Let’s Give Our Students a Break!

GUEST OPINION

Stay at home studying (Photo – archives.gov)

Six weeks ago, when I held my first Zoom class, one of my high schoolers unmuted himself to ask for permission to go to the bathroom. My response? “Please don’t take us with you.”

By Jennifer Love Tang

Ever since transitioning to Distance Learning, I have mastered an amalgam of tools to teach virtually: email, Google Classroom, Zoom, Instagram, phone calls, and Parentsquare (a messaging app to contact parents.) My colleagues and I have had tremendous success. Despite limited internet access and economic hardships, over 95% of our students check in every day, and 80% turn in assignments.

Still there were a few students who had not completed assignments no matter how many jokes I included in my YouTube lessons. So I contacted them through the one method I knew they could not ignore: text message.

As their high school teacher, I wanted them to turn in their work, and as a human being, I wanted to know how they were doing. So my text was simple: “Hi! I haven’t heard from you. How are you?” I expected explanations and excuses. I was prepared to be patient.

Our students deserve recognition for their resilience and tenacity

I wasn’t prepared for the flood of apologies, as if it was their fault they now have to homeschool young siblings, take care of grandparents who cannot leave the house, or pick up odd jobs to support their families.

Teacher Appreciation Week just passed, and while I love all the credit educators are getting for adapting to this unprecedented crisis, our students deserve recognition for their resilience and tenacity. My students are not quite 18. They should be thinking of prom and grad night. Instead, they are navigating a world full of uncertainty beyond anything we ever imagined.

Although not all of my students have caught up on their assignments, I know they will eventually. But I still won’t create lessons on TikTok no matter how many times they ask.

Jennifer Love Tang is a high school English teacher and community organizer based in Monterey Park.