Are you happy with the state of schools? Let us know.
After more than a year away, the transition back into the classroom has been a rocky — sometimes violent — road.
After more than a year of lesson plans being conducted from behind a computer screen, we knew that there was the potential that schools would get off to a rocky start when they reopened for in-person instruction again.
In the past couple of weeks, however, a string of incidents at various schools in the Greater Boston area have called into question just how negatively the time away has impacted students and teachers.
Heading into the new school year, the looming concern for most schools was whether or not they were equipped to handle potential surges in COVID-19 cases. Federal health officials recently approved the vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, easing concerns of many parents that their children would be exposed to the virus while in school.
Since the start of the school year, most schools have had to rely on masking and regular testing to keep cases down. These tactics haven’t been effective at all schools. Officials at the Curley School in Jamaica Plain said it would close for 10 days starting Wednesday following an outbreak of 46 reported COVID-19 cases. South Elementary School in Andover is also dealing with a surge in positive cases but continues to hold in-person classes.
Aside from COVID-19, schools in the area have also been dealing with a rash of violent and discriminatory incidents as students struggle to readjust to being back in the classroom. Earlier this month, a principal at a school in Dorchester was hospitalized after an attack from a student, and last month in Lawrence, four students, and one parent were arrested after a chaotic fight broke out at the local high school.
When schools aren’t dealing with violence, they also have to worry about racial insensitivity and other acts of discrimination. It recently came to light that Danvers officials allegedly hid sexual and racist hazing incidents among the hockey team.
Taken together, these incidents paint a grim picture of the transition back to the classroom. Even in less extreme cases, schools are struggling to address the learning loss caused by the pandemic and many teachers are doing their jobs under increased stress and staff shortages.
We want to know: How do you feel about your school’s current climate? Are you concerned about how students are adjusting after so much time away? Do you worry about learning loss or social anxiety? Has your school had to deal with any acts of violence or racism?
Let us know how you feel about the current environment at your school by completing the survey below or e-mailing us at [email protected]. We may feature your response in a future article.
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