Why I’m Learning More With Distance Learning Than I Do in School

Why I’m Learning More With Distance Learning Than I Do in School

I’m 13 years old. I don’t miss the other kids who talk out of turn, disrespect(ˌdisrəˈspekt) teachers and hit one another.

By Veronique Mintz

Talking out of turn. Destroying(dəˈstroi) classroom materials(məˈti(ə)rēəl). Disrespecting teachers. Blurting(blərt) out answers during tests. Students pushing, kicking, hitting one another and even rolling on the ground. This is what happens in my school every single day.

You may think I’m joking, but I swear(swe(ə)r) I’m not.

Based on my peers’ behavior, you might guess that I’m in second or fourth grade. But I’m actually about to enter high school in New York City, and, during my three years of middle school, these sorts of disruptions(disˈrəpSH(ə)n) occurred(əˈkər) repeatedly(rəˈpēdədlē) in any given 42-minute class period(ˈpi(ə)rēəd).

That’s why I’m in favor of the distance learning the New York City school system instituted when the coronavirus pandemic(panˈdemik) hit. If our schools use this experience to understand how to better support teachers in the classroom, then students will have a shot at learning more effectively(əˈfektəvlē) when we return.

Let me explain why.

I have been doing distance learning since March 23 and find that I am learning more, and with greater ease, than when I attended regular classes. I can work at my own pace(pās,ˈpäˌCHā,ˈpāˌsē) without being interrupted by disruptive(disˈrəptiv) students and teachers who seem unable to manage them.


https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/05/opinion/coronavirus-pandemic-distance-learning.html