Orange County Register - By John M. W. Moorlach
Parents want choices on sending their children back to school. That’s the main message from a survey my office sent this month to constituents in my 37th District of the California Senate. Responses arrived from about 2,500 families. Of those responding, nearly 70 percent were parents, 20 percent grandparents and the rest guardians or other persons involved with raising children.
Some major findings: About 50 percent said the distance learning during the last part of the school year did not meet their expectations. That was the time the coronavirus lockdown progressed and all students were sent home.
Nearly 60 percent said their child spent on average three hours per day or less online.
Looking forward, more than 50 percent preferred sending their children back to school full time. More than 90 percent said parents should reserve the right to choose distance learning, classroom learning or some combination of the two.
Here are some comments from constituents:
• “There is no one-size-fitsall answer. Each family should be able to decide for themselves what is best for their child.”
• “My husband and I would prefer to both be employed. But if they intend to force distance learning, I will quit and homeschool our children so they do not fall behind.”
• “Teachers are essential workers. If you don’t open the schools, I want a refund of my property tax dollars that are used for education so I can make other arrangements.”
• “I’m a teacher with four kids at home. I can’t teach and school them. For me, school is my day care. I don’t have a budget to pay day care for my school-age kids.”
• “I am concerned for students that are challenged by school and have less than ideal home environments. Distance learning will have tragic effects on minorities and the poor, burying them and setting them up for failure. My only suggestion is to put teachers behind plexiglass in the front of the classroom and get the kids back to school where they are healthiest.”
• “Certain medical, financial and logistical cases may require some students to stay home. However, for the rest, having complete stay-at-home, online learning seems to be generally unproductive for many students.”
• “I was forced to quit my job to stay home with our three children since they have nowhere to go while I work. Working from home was near impossible. We are now a one-income household — my husband has had a pay cut as well. We are now unable to pay our bills and looking to grocery distributions in the community. If we have to continue with distance learning, we will be forced to choose to privately homeschool instead, as distance learning was an utter failure and my children learned nothing. We are also pursuing moving out of state permanently.”
The survey suggests parents and guardians want a choice in how, where and when their children are educated, while protecting the health and safety of all children and educators, as well as their families at home.
Parents’ comments revealed a wide variety of stresses related to closing schools, including financial struggles, damage to children and family relationships, regression in academic intellect and many others.
The recurring theme of the survey comments is that there is no “one-size-fits-all” answer.
The bottom line: People know what is best for their families and how their communities should best respond to a public health concern in the short- and long-terms.
Families need to be consulted on returning their children to school. They need to be given choices that fit each family’s unique situation and needs.
Education and other government officials need to listen to, and heed, the families they serve.
John M. W. Moorlach, R-Costa Mesa, represents the 37th District in the California Senate.
ocregister-ca.newsmemory.com
Parents want choices on sending their children back to school. That’s the main message from a survey my office sent this month to constituents in my 37th District of the California Senate. Responses arrived from about 2,500 families. Of those responding, nearly 70 percent were parents, 20 percent grandparents and the rest guardians or other persons involved with raising children.
Some major findings: About 50 percent said the distance learning during the last part of the school year did not meet their expectations. That was the time the coronavirus lockdown progressed and all students were sent home.
Nearly 60 percent said their child spent on average three hours per day or less online.
Looking forward, more than 50 percent preferred sending their children back to school full time. More than 90 percent said parents should reserve the right to choose distance learning, classroom learning or some combination of the two.
Here are some comments from constituents:
• “There is no one-size-fitsall answer. Each family should be able to decide for themselves what is best for their child.”
• “My husband and I would prefer to both be employed. But if they intend to force distance learning, I will quit and homeschool our children so they do not fall behind.”
• “Teachers are essential workers. If you don’t open the schools, I want a refund of my property tax dollars that are used for education so I can make other arrangements.”
• “I’m a teacher with four kids at home. I can’t teach and school them. For me, school is my day care. I don’t have a budget to pay day care for my school-age kids.”
• “I am concerned for students that are challenged by school and have less than ideal home environments. Distance learning will have tragic effects on minorities and the poor, burying them and setting them up for failure. My only suggestion is to put teachers behind plexiglass in the front of the classroom and get the kids back to school where they are healthiest.”
• “Certain medical, financial and logistical cases may require some students to stay home. However, for the rest, having complete stay-at-home, online learning seems to be generally unproductive for many students.”
• “I was forced to quit my job to stay home with our three children since they have nowhere to go while I work. Working from home was near impossible. We are now a one-income household — my husband has had a pay cut as well. We are now unable to pay our bills and looking to grocery distributions in the community. If we have to continue with distance learning, we will be forced to choose to privately homeschool instead, as distance learning was an utter failure and my children learned nothing. We are also pursuing moving out of state permanently.”
The survey suggests parents and guardians want a choice in how, where and when their children are educated, while protecting the health and safety of all children and educators, as well as their families at home.
Parents’ comments revealed a wide variety of stresses related to closing schools, including financial struggles, damage to children and family relationships, regression in academic intellect and many others.
The recurring theme of the survey comments is that there is no “one-size-fits-all” answer.
The bottom line: People know what is best for their families and how their communities should best respond to a public health concern in the short- and long-terms.
Families need to be consulted on returning their children to school. They need to be given choices that fit each family’s unique situation and needs.
Education and other government officials need to listen to, and heed, the families they serve.
John M. W. Moorlach, R-Costa Mesa, represents the 37th District in the California Senate.
Orange County Register
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