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Student Guest Post: Finding the Positive in Online Schooling

What struck me about this post, written by an incredibly talented student, is the optimism that can be found in her words. These are stressful times for sure and for everyone. Yet, as Miss Tooley points out, times like this may help us to appreciate what we do have even more.  I am thankful for her permission to share her words here. 

Online Schooling
Written by Jenna Tooley, Student at Granville Junior Senior High School

While online schooling is not ideal, learning to adapt to doing schoolwork from home has become a daily routine. The teachers and administration have been a tremendous support system with providing students with the materials they need and being available at almost any time if students have questions. Although online schooling is much different than actually being in school every day, being able to complete all the assigned work by the deadlines has not been too difficult. Several teachers have even set up google meets and google chats during the week to allow students to ask questions or complete work as if it is like regular class time. Being able to still communicate with the teachers has been extremely helpful and makes the whole process of online schooling much easier.

The one benefit of online schooling is that it has allows students to create their own schedule every week and designate certain times for each of their classes to complete work. Creating a to-do list every week with all of the assignments and the due dates and planning ahead of time makes it much more manageable for students to get everything done for that week. Having a google classroom for every class is also extremely helpful because the teachers post the assignments with the due dates in advance so students have enough time to complete the assignment. Being in school and interacting with teachers and friends is not nearly the same as doing google meets but at least having google meets gives students an opportunity to talk with friends in that class and have somewhat of a normal class day. Students should be thankful that our school decided to follow through with online schooling because not all students have this opportunity that we do. Even the principal has set up a google meet for students to interact and check-in each week, which shows that the teachers and the administration truly care and understand that online schooling is much different than being in school but they are here to support all of the students.

Online schooling has made students realize that now, they actually want to be in school but when we were in school, they wanted to be home. Students should be grateful that they get the opportunity to go to school because not all kids have this opportunity which is why you should never take things for granted. Students will be lucky to even be able to go back to school because schools in Vermont are not allowed to even go back to school for the remainder of the year, which is devastating to the seniors who now have to miss out on the last few months that they could have spent with their friends and teachers, making the last memories of their high school career, and now all of that is gone for them. We should never take things in life for granted because now, students from all schools are begging to go back but most schools may not even have graduation at the time they were supposed to or have a prom or a senior trip. During this time it should make people appreciate what they have because it can all be taken away from me at any instant, and some students may never get certain things back, certain memories that they wished they would have had. Everyone misses being with their friends and having practice after school for spring sports and staying after school with teachers, but right now, people’s health is more important. Many students are thankful that online schooling has brought some sort of normalcy back into their lives during this time, and hopefully, we will return back to school soon so we can finish off the year on a positive note.

Comments

  1. Dear Miss Tooley and Ms. Meade,
    Thank you for writing and sharing your thoughts here. During this complex time, it's at times difficult to make sense of how to overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities that exist. Know that, because of your courage to share these words, you've helped someone, so thank you for that. I'm going to share this with others who need to read this. Miss Tooley, it seems like you have a bright future ahead of you. Keep your focus and your optimism, and you will surely succeed. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you Dennis Schug for being the best brother a sister leader could ever have.

    ReplyDelete

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