Math Education gives Kids a Successful Future

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RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT OF COVID 19 ON EDUCATION

Austin Dowling, Bermuda

Good morning. As mentioned, my name is Austin Dowling. As a student who went through COVID 19 in the middle of my high school career I can attest to the difficulties many students were facing. When COVID hit Bermuda, my school went into online school for the rest of the year. As a result of abrupt change and social distancing I lost a lot of the social connections and educational rigor I needed to uphold a good academic standing. But I’m one of the few who had access to online resources and a household that could sustain a healthy learning environment at home. Many students were not as fortunate. Still, COVID created social problems that the internet could not accommodate. I eventually decided to move to the US in order to gain more social and educational access. It was, of course, difficult to move away from my home and adjust to different cultures and education styles but I got through it and have been able to grow past the problems that COVID created for me. While this helped me, the move was not ideal, and most students had to deal with a completely transformed educational and social landscape in the wake of COVID.

Today, the unequal effects of COVID 19, as some communities were hit harder than others, have inevitably put many students at a disadvantage. The effects of educational inequalities that existed before the pandemic, such as unequal access to technology, tutoring, skillful teachers, mental health care, and a stable home environment, have been significantly increased.

With regard to access to technology, the statistics are troubling. From the results of a survey from the US Department of Education, before COVID, only 15% of schools had computers for students take home, 50% of schools had teachers that were trained to use technology, 45% of schools had computers at the school accessible to students, while 34% of schools said outdated technology was an issue. From a pre COVID lens, these statistics might have seemed like a minor issue; however, we now understand the importance of having good online access during a pandemic.

Furthermore, another huge problem is mental health. COVID has done a lot of damage. According to the CDC, in 2021, more than a third of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 44% reported they persistently felt sad or hopeless during the past year. That’s in the US alone. Worldwide, as reported by the OCHA, half of the children living in fragile and conflict affected countries expressed a need for mental health and psychosocial support as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. And this rises to 70% for refugee and displaced children. Clearly, mental health is worsening Globally as a result of the pandemic. This calls for action, especially in schools.

These mental health problems in conjunction with domestic violence and other problems at home, can make a bad situation a living nightmare. The CDC reports that at least 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse and/or neglect in the past year. Also, the Harvard Gazette reports, “A lockdown increases the risk factors for domestic violence in multiple ways: there are more financial stressors because of income loss due to unemployment; there is also the loss of the ability to have breathing spaces for people who are in risky relationships. ” Similarly, SAMHSA states,

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Stressed parents may be more likely to respond to their children’s anxious behaviors or demands in aggressive or abusive ways. ” Therefore, even homes that did not previously experience domestic abuse could have been a very dangerous place for students during the pandemic.

So how do we respond to these problems in an effective way? We have to fix the damage caused by COVID while being prepared for another COVID like situation, to truly move on from and rise above it. We can start by urging our policy makers to draft legislation that requires access to quality technology and resources in all public schools. This is a base level step that will be crucial to prepare for another pandemic and accommodate immunocompromised students. We should also destigmatize mental health care while making it cheaper and easier for students to access. An example of this is having free therapy sessions available in schools. Finally, in the event of another health crisis, our local communities need to provide students with programs that host social activities with a low risk of infection and, barring specific cases, require that students attend these activities. Having an active social life is critical for humans of all ages but especially teens. Schools have a duty to provide students with a healthy social environment and during a pandemic, this could be as simple as group cycling, outdoor painting classes, gardening, and other outdoor, community focused activities.

Overall, we as a community have a responsibility to improve access to education across the board and ensure a stable social life for all students. Education for students today will determine the nature of our society tomorrow. Thank you.

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Works Cited

Intimate Partner Violence and Child Abuse Considerations ...

- Samhsa. 21 Apr. 2020, https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/social-distancing-domestic-violence.pdf. Mineo, Liz. “'Shadow Pandemic' of Domestic Violence. ” Harvard Gazette, Harvard Gazette,

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2022, https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/06/shadow-pandemic-of-domesticviolence/#:~:text=A%20lockdown%20increases%20the%20risk,who%20are%20in%20risky%2 0relationships. “New CDC Data Illuminate Youth Mental Health Threats during the COVID-19 Pandemic. ” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 31 Mar. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0331-youth-mental-health-covid19.html#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20new%20data,hopeless%20during%20the%20past %20year. “The Silent Pandemic: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Children in Conflict Affected Countries - World. ” ReliefWeb, 28 Apr. 2021, https://reliefweb.int/report/world/silent-pandemic-impact-covid-19-pandemic-mental-health-andpsychosocial-wellbeing. Use of Educational Technology for Instruction in Public Schools: 2019–20. https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2021/2021017Summary.pdf.

SIR AUSTIN'S PRESENTATION

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MATH EDUCATION GIVES KIDS A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE

Jason Eappen, USA

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Education has become a centerpiece of society for generations. When we analyze the value of education for children, it not only sets them up for their future but also develops a more productive nation. Outside of the growth of countries, each child that has an education allows them to have a plethora of positive outcomes. This includes: importance of civic duties, following laws, high paying jobs, and less crimes. All of these can trace education to a reason why these outlooks exist. Math itself uniquely provides a multitude of benefits for children.

Mathematics provides an effective way of building mental discipline and encourages logical reasoning. When a child is young, if their math strength is very good it can be a great predictor on how the child will do in their future schooling. Having that mental rigor of math can prepare students to be ready for harder subjects and fields. Understanding, learning, and applying math skills can really help children succeed in real life as well. For example, figuring out distance, time and cost for travel, understanding loans for cars, trucks, homes, schooling or other purposes can allow children to set themselves physically and financially for the future.

Math is essential to open many opportunities for people to have a stable job as well. People who have a strong grasp on math can get jobs in many fields. For example, economics deals with money and an aspect of it involves math. Meaning, children who have a strong math background will have an easier time understanding economics. Being an economist is a great job that pays very well. This means kids can help their families improve their socioeconomic status by sending remittances back home. Even if kids do not like mathematics as much, understanding math can help play a crucial role in understanding the contents of other school subjects such as science, and social studies which again opens many opportunities for jobs.

Overall, mathematics is a valuable subject to learn and kids all over the world should be taught this subject. Unfortunately, with limited resources, there are some children who are deprived of this subject. The world should ensure that education is a human right. The current leaders need to support the next generation by giving them the resources and the education to help them have a better future for themselves and their families.