A sign points to the Clarke County School District administrative offices. On April 1, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced that public schools would be closed for the remainder of the school year. “The closure, practically speaking, meant I had to completely change the way I learn. Rather than learning through a traditional method I’ve literally grown up with, I had to experiment with new ways to learn content from within my home,” Haseeb Khalid, a North Oconee High School senior, said. “It has (also) greatly impacted the social end of things as well. I, alongside many other students, face the absence of seeing our peers and faculty. Despite any attempt to stay in touch (digitally), one can not match the bond built on a daily, face-to-face basis.” Photo by Krista Shumaker
On April 1, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced that public schools would be closed for the rest of the school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following previous announcements of school closures from around the state, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced on April 1 during a press conference that Georgia public schools would be closed for the remainder of the school year in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“In accordance with (Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner) Dr. (Kathleen) Toomy‘s recommendation, I will sign an executive order today, (April 1), closing K-12 public schools for the rest of the school year,” Kemp said during the press conference. “I want to stress that online learning will continue. I want to thank all of the educators and superintendents that have stayed in touch with us through this process to make the best of a tough situation. We will continue to work with them on the path forward.”
Athens Academy junior Mary Goggin supports Kemp’s decision to close public schools for the rest of the school year.
“(The closure) is what needs to be done to stop the spread of this virus. It is a health epidemic that is causing thousands of people to pass away,” Goggin said. “The more people that are in close proximity with each other, the more it increases the risk of spreading the virus to not only themselves, but their family, friends, and anyone else they come in contact with.”
Clarke Central High School senior Naomi Ibañez is upset that this closure is affecting her last year of high school.
“I understand that this closure was done with the best interest of everyone’s health. I’m fully aware of the seriousness of the coronavirus, but aside from that, it really sucks because it’s my last year of high school,” Ibañez said. “Due to the closure, I, as well as others, are going to miss out on senior activities that previous seniors were able to do. I was looking forward to making those memories.”
“Due to the closure, I, as well as others, are going to miss out on senior activities that previous seniors were able to do. I was looking forward to making those memories.”
— Naomi Ibañez,
Clarke Central High School senior
Because students and teachers are not allowed to meet in person for class, many schools have switched over to digital learning, in which teachers assign work digitally and hold online classes through programs like Google Hangouts Meet or Zoom.
Holsenbeck Elementary School instructional coach Jan Moore believes that the digital learning Georgia schools have switched to can work well, but there will always be issues.
“Digital learning can be successful if you are prepared for it and have taught students how to access (it). The problem comes when students do not have digital access,” Moore said. “Those are usually the students who are already behind. Teachers must be creative to meet the needs of all learners.”
North Oconee High School senior Haseeb Khalid has noticed that digital learning is affecting his learning ability.
“(Digital learning) can’t replace the traditional teaching most students are used to. Being in a classroom setting helps students focus and build a connection with their teacher that allows the enhancement of their learning,” Khalid said. “Personally, I am not performing at the same level I would be in the classroom, but I think the same can be said for most students. I think faculty and school administration (should) acknowledge the challenges students are facing at this time and take that into account when giving assignments and grading them.”
“(Digital learning) can’t replace the traditional teaching most students are used to. Being in a classroom setting helps students focus and build a connection with their teacher that allows the enhancement of their learning.”
— Haseeb Khalid,
North Oconee High School senior
According to Moore, her younger students are most affected by the switch to digital learning.
“(My students in kindergarten are) the most difficult population to teach using digital learning. Students at this age need leveled texts to read with teacher support. Because of the abrupt closure, students do not have access to these books,” Moore said. “These books are not available online. Teachers are working on sight words, but phonics and decoding skills will be very underdeveloped due to this learning platform. Teachers are trying to provide lessons using document cameras, but there is no comparison to being with the teacher in person.”
Cedar Shoals High School junior Lily Gehner is worried about how the closure will affect her Advanced Placement classes.
“I am worried about the (AP) tests because the College Board has reduced the length (in time) down to 45 minutes per test, and there are no longer multiple-choice questions on the test,” Gehner said. “(This change) confuses me — I don’t know how the (College Board) will prevent cheating, and I am afraid that my scores will not be as great as anticipated due to the loss of the last quarter of the school year, (which is) the time to review for the exam.”
Levi Holliday, a junior and track athlete at Jefferson High School, says that his whole team has been affected by the sudden end of their season.
“We had to cancel practice and meets. It’s hard because now everyone has to find time to run on their own,” Holliday said. “I have no idea (if this will affect next season). I want to say (it will), but I don’t know how long this (outbreak) is going to last.”
Goggin hopes that people will stay connected and help each other during this pandemic.
“My main concerns about this virus are not about me but instead about the health and safety of my family, friends and everyone who is at risk of having a severe case,” Goggin said. “With everyone isolated at their homes, I want each individual to still feel connected as a community and feel that they have people to help them if they are struggling. I want everyone to be reminded that we are all in this together, and it is crucial to continue to love and support one another during this time.”
“I want everyone to be reminded that we are all in this together, and it is crucial to continue to love and support one another during this time.”
— Mary Goggin,
Athens Academy junior
