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Explore all the ways that students, staff and others feel about going back
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s of March 9, Palo Alto High of remote learning. One of these students School has allowed students to was freshman Miya Joshi, who set foot on return to campus twice a week. campus for the first time this past March. Justified concern struck a portion of the “It [online learning] actually had a recommunity worried about safety precau- ally big effect on my mental health,” Joshi tions such as teachers being sent in per- said. “It was hard for me to sit in front of son without vaccinations. Nonetheless, a a screen for seven hours and not be able to significant group of the community also leave my house to see my friends. It’s hard advocated the opposite—a reopening was for me to just learn on my own.” necessary to combat the increasing social, Others voiced their discontent regardemotional and academic isolation of stu- ing the lack of teachers involved in the dents. After just decisionmaking proover a year of livcess. Science teacher ing through a pan- “By late January, I was Michael Mishali is redemic, varying ex- like, ‘I can’t do this covering from leg surperiences provide gery, meaning he’s not unique opinions anymore.’” mobile enough to teach Medha Atla in person yet. Mishali on going back. Principal Brent is considering coming Kline never got to experience Paly culture back after Spring Break because he wants before schools shut down last spring be- to see students again, but thought the cause he was hired on the cusp of all the original timeline felt rushed. chaos. After looking out onto an empty “In the course of the school week, I quad for months, Kline said it’s been fun am least happy on Mondays when I do to see some students fill the space. Zoom-free lessons because I really do miss “It’s like the clouds finally parted and being in a classroom with kids,” Mishathe sun shone on our campus with the li said. “But I wish that we waited a litreturn of kids,” Kline said. “Although it tle longer until more teachers were safely wasn’t a huge amount, I saw a needle’s eye vaccinated until we return.” of what Paly’s about and what it’s like.” Junior and ASB Site Council RepreAnd as far as reopenings go, few things sentative Nysa Bhat agreed. were more highly anticipated than the re“Parents were consulted on this deturn of athletics. Nelson Gifford, athletic cision and sort of the board members director and administrator during hybrid and students, but I felt with the teachers, learning, also shared his excitement for there was not that much representation the full return. for them and their voices were not being “I understand the very real safety heard,” Bhat said. concerns that come with reintroducing Kline said that those involved in people back into a close contact environ- planning the reopening included several ment,” Gifford said. “However, I’m really teacher leaders, counselors, his adminisimpressed with the discipline and consid- trative team and more. Still, many teacheration that students have demonstrated ers have chosen to continue instruction with following the protocols while they’re from home. on campus.” But the consensus isn’t black and According to Kline, one of his and white—some community members are other planning members’ main objectives left stuck in the middle, unsure of whethwas to help students with the challenges er or not to go back at this point. Senior
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and School Board Representative Medha Alta was in the middle of the action making decisions alongside the school board, yet was still apprehensive when the first reopening plan was surveyed. “When we got that survey to fill out for the previous reopening schedule I had said ‘no,’”Atla said. “I was going to stay home and committed to that.” The survey sent out in December had been the topic of much criticism at the time because of the limited flexibility in the options to return. However, Atla changed her mind soon after. “By late January, I was like, ‘I can’t do this anymore,’” Atla said. “You hit your breaking point at different stages and for me I think late January was it.” Anywhere on this spectrum of comfortability is a valid opinion, so it’s critical that we highlight them all. Mental health specialist Elizabeth Spector, who works in the Wellness Center, echoed this sentiment. “It’s important to weigh all of the factors,” Spector said. “It’s not one-size-fits-all, so it’s important to know what it is that you and your family need and use that to guide you.”
