Always Living and Learning

I cannot imagine experiencing virtual high school way back in my teenage years in the late 1970s. Of course, we did not have that sort of technology then. If we had had a world health scare and had to remain home from school, there certainly would have been another way for students to get their school work done – probably some kind of drop off system. This current generation of students are in unprecedented times. Three straight calendar school years have now seen Grants High School have to spend at least a portion of the school year virtual.

I have told my 11th grade English and journalism students they are living in an education world never seen before.

I wrote, several weeks ago, how pleased I was we, at GHS, had made it through this school year’s first semester without having to go virtual. That did not continue in the second semester, however, which began Jan. 5. Students came to school five straight school days before GHS, under state-mandated requirements, were back to virtual schooling Jan. 12. Over the next seven school days (not including weekends, MLK, Jr. holiday), GHS students did their school work on google classroom and Meet sessions from home. GHS had gone from the Level 2 safety category – where face to face school is allowed - to Level 5 – where it is no longer safe due to high Covid cases. According to Cibola County school numbers, 25 percent of GHS staff were in quarantine status or had Covid, while eight percent of the 900-plus student body was in that status. So GHS closed and virtual reality set in once again.

Thankfully, students returned Monday, Jan. 25. Upon their return, I unofficially polled my classes as to whether they would prefer to have school face to face or virtual in this environment. 65 percent of the 81 students polled were glad to be back in school.

I gave returning students an essay assignment in which they voiced their thoughts on being virtual Jan. 12-25. Here were some of their responses. “Well, in my opinion, it has not been the best,” said one female student. “I was used to going to school every day of the week, and I socialized. Now, since we are at home all day, I don’t get to do that. I would have to say that there are not many good things about online learning.” Another female student wrote, “This past week and a half have been harder than this whole school year to get work done. It's exactly how it was when the pandemic first started (in 2020). It's not easy because when you're home you're not motivated to work.” And a female senior-athlete: “Personally, it has been a downer for me, as it is my last year in high school.”

A male student-athlete was also dis-heartened: “I really don't like online school. I am willing to put up with it for a week but that's it. It's just so boring. Also, I don’t like being stuck at home.”

I have encouraged students to persevere during these challenging times with the uncertainty of the virus itself and how it effects their high school years. I stress they will be better individuals for having gone through this and implore them to hang in there and work hard in their studies – at school or online. Trials are part of life and they will learn and grow. Years from now, perhaps with families and employment, they will be better individuals.

Life is full of challenges. That’s been the case in America for all generations since we became a nation in 1776. My heart goes out to GHS students. So, to conclude, I say, `Be strong, Pirates – and keep your eyes on the graduation prize.”