WESTFIELD, New Jersey – If a school district is open to on-site learning in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, but a student is sitting in a room with an instructor training in front of the camera, does anything have to change?What about schools that have to close, open and close again?
While school districts are suffering to make decisions amid the coronavirus wave in New Jersey, some wonder how distance learning and hybrid learning strategies in local school districts can be subtle by 2021.
A parent sent a letter to Westfield School Superintendent Margaret Dolan just before winter break, complaining that her son is in a top school surrounded by empty desks, while his teachers teach on camera for remote students.
“I write to tell you how disappointed I am with hybrid learning style in high school, especially with classroom fun, which is nothing like being in class,” wrote the father, who has two children in high school. . ” When in person, my children are the only academics in their classes, not because other parents are involved with COVID exposure (they tell me), but because fun in the classroom does not lead to learning. Students are in the classroom:
Several Union County districts, in addition to Westfield and Cranford, remain out of the way for a week after the end of the winter break on Monday to protect students and staff from transmissions that may have occurred during the holidays. But some parents are frustrated because their schools have been gone longer.
“Everyone is doing something different, which is why other people are angry,” one parent wrote on a Westfield Facebook discussion page, talking about neighboring districts. “Scotch Plains has maintained its sporting activities; Not Westfield. Westfield did very well. with the hybrid for elementary and secondary schools, but not high school and sports have been closed . . . Children have to be in school. Virtual is not a long-term solution. I’m not sure what the solution is. “
Earlier this year, Westfield athletes complained about canceling sports.
The directors say they’re doing everything they can. At Cranford, the director reminded parents last week that they can simply transfer between hybrid and remote models in February, but noted that possible options can result in a schedule change.
UPDATE: New Jersey has published the list showing, in order, when and where you can receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s what you want to know.
In Westfield, Dr. Dolan published a holiday letter before the winter break, praising the “strength, commitment, compassion, and resilience of the school community. “She noted that “2020 has brought non-public and professional challenges. “
UPDATE: New Jersey has released the list that shows, in order, when and where you can get the COVID-19 vaccine. This is what you want to know.
Meanwhile, the coronavirus wave sets records in New Jersey.
Just before Christmas, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said there had been 111 deaths among citizens tuesday through Wednesday, the death toll in a day since July. The state also set a seven-month record in total coronavirus hospitalizations, with 3,841 new hospitalizations (3612 positive and 279 awaiting control results). A total of 765 patients were in intensive care beds and 485 patients were in fans.
On Sunday night, 351,000 Americans had died from the virus. (You can see which states had the number of deaths last week here). )
See the latest Westfield figures for 2020 here.
See the history of Westfield Look forward 2021 here.
Have you heard from him? Send an email to caren. lissner@patch. com. To be the first to receive news alerts with last-minute stories in Westfield, or to get a loose local newsletter every morning, sign up for last-minute alerts or daily newsletters.
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