With the 2020-2021 school year beginning on August 31, the Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ERHS) community is adjusting to a full semester of virtual learning.
ERHS is operating on their normal 8:45 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. eight-period bell schedule for live classes, with Wednesdays reserved for asynchronous work and enrichment if necessary. This plan will be in place until January 29. Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) will reevaluate in December and determine whether it is safe for students and teachers to return to school for hybrid instruction or continue virtually.
Both students and teachers say that the most difficult part of switching to online learning is the inability to form new relationships. For freshmen and new students, it is especially important to not only make new friends but build relationships for academic support. Freshman Sasha Sehgal says that the most difficult part of virtual learning is “not being able to talk to new people,” including teachers and students. A benefit from being in a physical classroom is that it allows students and teachers to interact in real time and learn from one another, an aspect that is lacking in virtual classrooms. Heather Seyler, English teacher at ERHS, states that, “energy and … ideas from students are what make teaching worth it. However, planning lessons for virtual school involves twice the energy from teachers and makes it twice as hard for students to communicate their input.”
“Small, one-on-one, relationship-building moments like hallway conversations are hard to build into online learning,” adds Seyler.
Many ERHS students struggle to maintain the same quality of learning while being stuck at home. Working from a computer for seven hours is draining and provides less variety and physical breaks than in-person school. Without the ability to transition from classroom to classroom, students are stuck in the monotony of their restricted home workspaces. Senior Colleen Gunn says, “it feels really weird to sit on Zoom for hours and not really talk to anyone for the whole time.”
Virtual learning also limits teachers’ ability to cater to all students, and many students with hands-on learning styles are suffering. Lab work in science classes is nearly impossible and engaging discussions are challenging over unreliable technology. “I think the teachers are trying their best to keep the quality the same, but there are so many things that you can only do in person,” states junior Cynthia Rego.
Teachers also struggle to reach their students as well as they have in past school years. “I feel like in some classes I’m just talking to a wall,” says Kenneth Robertson, a government teacher at ERHS. Without the ability to walk around the classroom and observe students complete their work, teachers wonder whether their students are absorbing everything they teach.
“I took for granted how easy it was for me to putz around checking homework or some other assignment and pick up tidbits from each student to relate back to throughout the year,” adds Robertson.
Students were able to pick up textbooks and Chromebooks from ERHS before the school year began, but many of them are still lacking necessary supplies. Times to pick up supplies were assigned alphabetically based on a person’s last name and some students are still missing textbooks and computers. Students and teachers understand that ERHS is working to obtain these materials as soon as possible, but the shortage still hinders learning. As a solution, online versions of textbooks are provided for some classes, but many students prefer to read from physical copies to limit excess screen time. At home, Wi-Fi and connectivity issues present a problem for everyone, but both students and staff assert that it’s important to be patient and understanding of everyone’s problems.
However, in true Roosevelt fashion, many students and teachers are seeking out positivity despite all of the negativity they face. Sleeping in, avoiding a busy commute, taking advantage of flexible scheduling and getting extra time at home with loved ones are just a few of the things that members of the ERHS community are enjoying right now. Students are working to keep in contact with old friends and make new friends in their classes, while teachers are reaching out to each other for help and making efforts to get to know their new students. Many students and teachers recommend sticking to a schedule to maintain a sense of normalcy. Junior Melanie Valenzuela says it is necessary to “take it one day at a time” and Seyler agrees, saying that “small victories are important to celebrate.”
All of ERHS is extremely appreciative of the group effort it takes to make virtual learning successful. “Witnessing all of the effort and dedication that the teachers, administration, counselors, students and many other people put into online learning makes me so thankful and joyful. It pushes me to do my best and view online learning in a much better perspective,” affirmed junior Abby Lopez-Freire.
Amy Lepore, who wrote the story and Divya Chappa, the photographer, are students at ERHS and members of the Raider Review, the school’s newspaper.
