The coronavirus shows no signs of stopping, with increasing cases and deaths. Currently, California has placed many restrictions on going outside and on the number of attendees at a gathering. However, I firmly believe that MHS students should go back to in-person learning during the second semester, or at least give students the option.
Interaction with other households must be minimal to slow transmission rates, but still, nothing will ever replace the memories made together with friends. When we grow up, we will remember staying indoors all day instead of participating in annual activities, like Powderpuff and Trojan Olympics. There has also been success from other schools that have begun in-person and hybrid classes, like Brewer High School in Maine. According to an article published on Sept. 10 by News Center Maine, “Students have expressed they are happy to be back with their friends and teachers are now focused on getting their students back to speed with their classes.”
As students stay at home, parents may need to watch over their children to make sure they have food to eat or are concentrating in class, instead of focusing on their own work. Allowing students to return to the classroom greatly benefits parents because they do not have to constantly worry about their children. As high school students, we should also be responsible enough to wear masks, practice social distancing, and take part in any other protocols the school enforces. The only problem would be classroom size, since it would be hard to fit everyone in a small room and also maintain distance. The responses from Brewer High School were also positive. “People were very cooperative, they understood the changes we had to make, and what we asked folks to do as far a PPE, as far as not coming into the building. A lot of traditional activities we had to hold off on because of this year but people respected that,” Brewer High School Superintendent James Boothby said. Everyone at Brewer High School did their part, and the school administration was open to advice and would revise regulations to make it safer for both students and teachers, and I believe MHS can do the same.
Being indoors all the time is also harmful to our health, since there is no motivation to stand up and walk around. If we did in-person learning, we would be forced to stand up and walk across the campus. Now we just attend class at our table or bed and every so often take a few steps to the kitchen to eat. Sitting down for long periods of time can cause high blood pressure, obesity, and increase in cholesterol levels. Staring at a screen for a long period of time can also negatively affect a student’s eyesight.
Even though students have more flexibility, there are more distractions leading students to procrastinate on their homework. There might also be a greater amount of academic dishonesty, as it is easier to cheat when teachers cannot monitor tests and, often, all the answers can be found on the Internet.
Although going back to school may be scary because of the severity of the virus, there are many benefits to doing so. Students will experience the memories they should have had, parents would have an easier time at work, and it would be better for our health.
