2020 Pivotal Moment in Time for Education

The COVID pandemic has been a shadow of dread, uncertainty, and fear for the last year and a half. Thousands of people have died, many have recovered,  and the effects of COVID will be felt for years to come. The world seemed to be descending into chaos as people were scared, confused, and uncertain when the pandemic would end. The pandemic has become an important moment in time which people will look back on, and study how we survived this world-wide event. It will also be looked back on and compared to events such as the Spanish Flu pandemic, World War I and II, and other world-wide events. With the end of the pandemic in sight many people are wondering what the world will look like after. Governments have spent billions of dollars, people have lost their jobs and homes, and many countless people have been affected and will be affected by the COVID virus for years to come. COVID has also dramatically affected the lives of children throughout the world. Their education, their sports, their relationships, their sense of normalcy, etc have been altered and affected in ways we will never understand.
With the pandemic coming to an end the lives of children will start to recover and a sense of normalcy will come upon them and their lives. Education is a huge part of every child’s life and many people were hoping to see education transform and change due to the COVID virus and the effect it had on education systems throughout the world. But will it? Or has its revealed that the current educational system and schools work and are vitals  part of the community they reside in and to the lives of every child that attend them. Prior to the COVID pandemic many people lauded online learning as the future of education. Would students be better educated through an online platform?  If students weren’t hamstrung by the current schooling system – limited course selection, rigid timetables, etc maybe education could meet every child where they are and allow them to prosper and flourish. The pandemic seems to have eradicated this notion. Why? The educational setting, the school, is not just a place where students learn the ABC’s. The pandemic has proven it to be a place where students learn academics, learn music, etc, it’s a place where they play sports, instruments, and engage in numerous social interactions a day. Its also a place which teaches them structure, rules, and a sense of responsibility. Students also have the opportunity to make meaningful and lifelong relationships with other students, staff, etc. On a daily basis students are supported, guided, and assisted by numerous adults within the schools. Schools are not just a place of ABC’s it’s a place of growth, nourishment, caring, love, and support. The pandemic has proven that schools might be one of the most important institutions within our communities and within our society.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *