Virtual learning is completely UNDERRATED! By: Chad Wood

    During the summer I think we all knew what was coming. There was no surprise when the administration had announced that we would start the school year fully virtual; but I don't understand what all the criticism is for. Students get to wake up later and even stay in bed during the school day if they choose. We get two, hour-long, classes and then a very long break- followed by two more, hour-long, classes. Two days are provided to complete homework, which gives students the option to do their work at their own pace. Now, I do recognize that there are many technical issues for teachers, and students; but wouldn't this still occur even if we weren't fully-virtual. It's not surprising that the Chromebooks are slow, this is nothing new. Internet issues and speed issues will always exist, and they are out of our hands. 

  Aside from the pros of virtual, is hybrid learning even as good as everyone thinks? No. I am aware of many people who go to schools like Pope John and find the hybrid experience lackluster. Some describe the experience very impersonal and hard to learn. They find it difficult to learn because it is much less of a hands-on experience and that the precautions they have to take inhibit them from a full learning experience. Now obviously the precautions used are for their safety, but some believe that they would just rather be fully virtual until they can come back to school with no precautions. 

    Our school district is dealing with a very tough, unprecedented situation, and there is no right way to teach students during this pandemic. So we need to support one another until we can return to how things used to be.