Community Forum: Positive impact of the COVID epidemic on Kindergarten to Grade 12

The Covid epidemic has changed many aspects of our daily lives. More and more people were working remotely. We increased our online shopping, we went to see movies, lectures and art galleries in our living rooms, rather than with crowds of people.

Perhaps no institution in our communities has been more immediately and directly affected by the epidemic than our schools. Suddenly everything changed. Schools have switched to distance learning. Teachers have adapted their classrooms to new technologies and new ways of involving students. New partnerships have been developed to provide the necessary support to students and their families. And people have come to appreciate the value and importance of schools more, for the students, for their families, for the whole community.

How resilient are our schools? How did they adapt and adapt to these challenges?

The Covid outbreak has resulted in at least one positive thing: a greater appreciation for the importance of public schools. While many parents struggle to ensure that their children are homeschooled online, they have come to appreciate the role schools pay in supporting and helping their children socialize. . As teachers adjust and adapt to new ways of involving students, gratitude for their work increases. The rapid and dramatic shift to online learning has forced us to understand the importance of broadband access and the need for partnerships to help students and their families use the required technology. Even something as basic as the school lunch program required innovation and change. And perhaps more importantly, the pandemic has underscored the important role schools play in promoting equal opportunities.

How have our schools adapted to these challenges? Three local school leaders will offer their views on the future of public education.