Should we continue in-person school or return to virtual?
January 31, 2022
Have you ever gone through a significant life change? Did it present any difficulties for you? How has your entire way of life changed? That is precisely what most students had to deal with in March of 2020. Students were forced to participate in virtual learning for what they assumed would be a few weeks. Those few weeks quickly became months, and those months became a year. Many have asked if they should continue virtual learning or return to in-person learning upon returning to school. I believe that students should continue to go to in-person learning because it is better for students’ mental health, education, and health. There are rules and restrictions in place that have kept students safe. The regulations in schools are there to protect students from COVID-19.
Mental Health
Everyone’s mental health is a vital concern. It became even more of an issue during the pandemic, particularly for students. Students were not compelled to stare at a computer screen all day and were incredibly bored. Virtual learning became a way of life for them. It is said that “children get much more than academics at school” (“Four Benefits of In-Person Learning”). They also become familiar with learning “social and emotional skills at school” (“Four Benefits of In-Person Learning”). This feeling changed after going virtual because many students felt isolated from their peers due to the lack of social interaction in online learning. Students started to feel lonely and less motivated to do anything school-related. This leads many to fall into a state of depression, and it becomes hard for anyone to help them as “mental health support and other services cannot be easily replicated online” (“Four Benefits of In-Person Learning”). To conclude, students need day-to-day interaction to prevent them from having bad mental health and health habits.
Education
Schools had to close to be converted to virtual for safety concerns and for children to learn; yet, what is the point of being virtual if the students aren’t learning? There is a lack of structure in online learning, which “can be especially difficult for children with focus issues…”. These can cause “challenges working independently, or [for] those with IEP’s (Individualized Education Plans)” (Pediatric Care Group). These students need special attention, as it is difficult to learn anything without professional help. While at school, the “teacher to guide each student … [and form] good perspective on whether the children themselves are utilizing them to their best ability” (“Four Benefits of In-Person Learning”). Students have more opportunities to cheat during virtual learning, and teachers can’t honestly see their true performance. It is even more challenging for students to mix their home and school life. They get distracted easily and can’t focus in their classes and then “tend to procrastinate and set things aside, then deadlines are missed, and this can cause pressure, stress, and anxiety” (“Mental Health Effects of Online Learning”) on both students and teachers. At school, students can’t just get up to go wash dishes; they have to be in one class without any outside distractions. This makes it easier for students to interrupt what their teachers teach. Therefore, if students are home, it impacts their grades badly than when they are at school face to face with many resources at hand.
Some believe that students shouldn’t go back to learning in person. They think that students should continue virtual learning due to the case increase. Although cases are increasing across the country, many counties like Baltimore County Public Schools, as stated by Cindy Sexton, the head of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County, are “providing staff with KN95 to protect themselves and others” (Hayes). They have even gone far to establish “on-site PCR testing at schools experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks” (Hayes). Lastly, there will be “rapid home testing for students and staff for distribution in schools with persistent or schoolwide outbreaks” (Hayes). This is a way for students to be kept safe at school to start to get normal slowly. In conclusion, although there are some negatives about in-person learning, the different counties are trying their best to keep both the staff and students safe
To conclude, I believe that students should continue in-person learning rather than continuing virtual learning. Although virtual learning has its benefits, it has more negative effects on students’ learning and mental health than in-person learning. Therefore, it is best if students continue in-person learning.
Milton lowe • Feb 17, 2022 at 1:26 PM
I think we should return to virtual it makes most people lives easier and we don’t have to walk through a whole lot of people .
ryanclements • Feb 16, 2022 at 10:07 AM
I feel as though it should be a choice because some students just aren’t virtual learners. Others are more hands on.
Deontae Roach • Feb 9, 2022 at 10:55 AM
I think that hybrid learning was so much better.
Felix Cole • Feb 9, 2022 at 8:12 AM
Nice article.
Makaiyah White • Feb 8, 2022 at 7:56 AM
I think virtual learning is the better option now that we’re all used to it.
bryanna dortch • Feb 8, 2022 at 7:59 AM
I agree.
dakota meekins • Feb 7, 2022 at 1:14 PM
I want to go back to virtual for all the wrong reasons.
Deyonna Smth • Feb 7, 2022 at 8:39 AM
We should continue in-person learning because doing at home learning is not a good option for most students.
Arianna Ruiz • Feb 2, 2022 at 1:34 PM
although virtual is safer I think students learn more in person, you’re more motivated than you are at home.
Deshari Johnson • Feb 2, 2022 at 1:28 PM
Even though virtual is the safer option, its not the most progressive and if anything has more problems than when we are in school.
Alya N. • Feb 2, 2022 at 9:36 AM
We should continue in-person learning.
Kameron Penn • Feb 1, 2022 at 2:17 PM
In person it is better for most.
Chelseathomas • Feb 1, 2022 at 2:13 PM
Personally virtual!
Makyah White • Feb 1, 2022 at 12:04 PM
I think that staying in school is kind of okay right now especially since we have a whole process with the tests now. I feel like this should have happened before but better late than never. I feel like this process would keep us safer and more organized.
Daniel Onyejiekwe • Feb 1, 2022 at 12:02 PM
In my opinion I think we should not return back to virtual learning becacuse for most students it was too difficult to adjust to the change in learning environments however I do think students should get the choice of choosing whether to go to school online or in-person so that way every student gets the opportunity to pick the option that would best fit them.
Angenoir Kitwara • Feb 1, 2022 at 12:02 PM
For the sake of the school’s community and public health, we should go back online. But a lot of people do well or can’t learn we they’re online.
Josiah Blake • Feb 1, 2022 at 12:02 PM
Virtual learning seems more reasonable in terms of whats going on right now. I always hear ¨ I cant concentrate” or ¨I keep going to sleep¨ which is basically an invalid excuse. When you leave your parents home your going to be on your own, there is nobody to wake you up or force you to concentrate. Virtual is very preparing for the real world in my oppinion.
Dusaun Shedden • Feb 1, 2022 at 12:00 PM
In my opinion..hybrid
Kyle Chichester • Feb 1, 2022 at 11:46 AM
I feel as though we should stay in school but continue to distribute out covid test to take every sunday and those who test positive must stay home and be able to do their work at home.
marylyen • Feb 1, 2022 at 9:10 AM
I feel that everyone should have the option to choose what’s best for their health and education.
Cydney Thompson • Feb 1, 2022 at 8:41 AM
Virtual really has been a negative impact, but to be in school we really need to be more with the new covid variant.
Faith Gemoh • Feb 1, 2022 at 8:38 AM
Both virtual and in-person learning all come with their advantages and disadvantages, but I will pick in-person learning anyday over virtual judging from my past experience.
Skye Mitchell • Feb 1, 2022 at 8:35 AM
I do hope that we don’t have to go virtual again, I do think that it is safer for us to be virtual. I do enjoy in person a lot better though.
Deyonna Smth • Feb 1, 2022 at 8:31 AM
I rather do in -person because being school at home is boring and very distracting.
Avery Thomas • Feb 1, 2022 at 8:31 AM
I prefer in person, but the question if it is safe or not remains.
Joshua Nunez • Feb 1, 2022 at 8:29 AM
I prefer in-person learning since I am able to commit to a schedule and be organized
Ariel Olfus • Feb 1, 2022 at 7:46 AM
I prefer in-person learning because I can actually focus on my work instead of being distracted by other things.
Joshua Onyejiekwe • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:43 PM
I think that in person learning is better than learning virtual because you can focus more and get better help than virtual
Paris Ogbonna • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:33 PM
Personally, I would love to remain In-person. Transitioning from In-person to online, back to In-person was challenging trying to readapt. Virtual affected my grades terribly I do not want differ.
Ayomide E Bakre • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:32 PM
Virtual is just better because you can eat mid class tbh. 🙂
Brian Smith • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:29 PM
Personally, I think we should continue in person learning. This is because it allows you to be more disciplined and less distracted .
Jeniya Moore • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:26 PM
I do agree that going virtual has had a negative impact on students mental health because of the lack of socialization. I personally like in person school because I am able to socialize and have a more hands on approach to learning, but my grades did excel in virtual, so I can see why someone may want to stay in virtual.
Eniola Ajayi • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:25 PM
In-person learning is definitely better. Students get to engage more, and pay more attention. But in virutal, you’re able to multitask while in class. Either way, I hate both.
alis-reyes • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:25 PM
Personally, I actually like both i like virtual because it’s easier for me but at the same time I like in person for the social interaction. I think that’s why for the most part everyone likes in person over virtual learning.
Mariah Mullins • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:23 PM
I feel like it will be hard to choose from virtual and in person because sometimes kids will sleep during virtual but in person you can watch the kids at all times. But overall this article was amazing and well put.
David Adewumi • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:22 PM
Very insightful article, I think it is worth the effort to stay physical due to all of the after school activities, highschool experiences, and human interaction we’d miss out on otherwise.
Ashley Chimi • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:20 PM
I think all the points you’ve laid out in this article are very clear and concise, and your arguments all make sense!
Caine Blake • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:20 PM
Although I dislike virtual school, I feel like we should be hammering it in for the time being, so that we can hopefully return to an environment where regulations such as the ones imposed right now are no longer necessary. I would much rather have the days of virtual long behind us, by spending more time on it now, than spend the rest of highschool and part of college constantly switching between the two mediums of education.
Hafsat Ladan • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:17 PM
I agree , they each have their own perks and used to prefer online but now I have adjusted to in person and I want it to continue.
Abigail Nwanwa • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:17 PM
I feel like the decision between virtual or in person isn’t easy because there are big pros and cons to both. One of them being virtual affecting students mental health in a negative way and in person learning affecting student physical health in a bad way.
Raegan Travers • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:17 PM
This is such a difficult question because either health and safety will be sacrificed or the quality of student learning. I personally like going to school at lot better and I know that I pay attenetion more but I can’t seem to figure out if I prioritize my health or my academics more.
Sean Hall • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:17 PM
I think we should go back virtual. I don’t even think we should’ve came back to school right after winter break. I feel as if the cases were still too high, plus a more contagious variant was running rampant. My personal opinion is that we should’ve waited until the beginning/middle of 3rd quarter to come back to school.
Michael Peters • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:16 PM
I believe that when materials for testing begin to slow we should convert back into virtual. This doesn’t mean canceling other events it only means virtual learning.
sydney-ellis • Jan 31, 2022 at 1:09 PM
For some people, I think in-person learning is better. On account of my own health, I believe that virtual learning is better for me. I could go with or without either.
valerie martinez • Jan 31, 2022 at 9:58 AM
There’s many pros and cons for virtual and in school person. Virtual school in my opinion is a distraction. I can never focus when I’m home in my bed. But at school, we’re still in a pandemic and many people forget that there is a virus still around.