interesting to hear from the students themselves, so I asked several of them to share their thoughts, to tell me about teachers they appreciated, things they liked about school, and what they would change if they could
What Do the Kids Think?
They made no secret of the fact that they were struggling in the midst of this pandemic, but their resilience shined through. wave a magic wand. I spoke with inland and coastal students from public and charter schools, boys and girls as young as fourth grade and as old as a junior in high school. Here’s what they told me.
By Michelle Hutchins, Mendocino County Superintendent of Schools
Teachers Do an Amazing Job Every student could quickly name a teacher—often several teachers—who’d had a positive influence on them.
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A junior from Redwood Academy said her history teacher, Mr. Cimmiyotti, brought historical figures to life by sharing anecdotes that made them real (and often made her laugh).
Students Talk about Distance Learning he COVID-19 pandemic continues to present challenges none of us could have imagined a year ago. As confirmed cases rise in Lake and Mendocino Counties, school boards are forced to choose between unpleasant options: distance learning or a return to the classroom with unprecedented restrictions. Both choices make it harder for teachers to teach and students to learn.
Information about how COVID-19 spreads changes as scientists around the globe share new discoveries. One day, the data suggest we can safely return to the classroom and days later, public health experts tell us we cannot. It’s frustrating for everyone—families, teachers, administrators, and employers. In addition to worrying about everyone’s health and safety, the 10 MendoLakeFamilyLife
inability to plan has strained already frayed nerves. The general consensus of educators, backed by scientific research, tells us that in-classroom education is by far the best for most students— academically, socially, and emotionally—unless being in the classroom puts them at risk of contracting and/or spreading a deadly virus, of course. I thought it would be
A fourth grader from Oak Manor Elementary School said, “I liked Mr. Butler because in kindergarten I was a goofball. I was really funny, and he came in and he was exactly the same….I learned a lot—a lot, a lot. At the end of the school year, he made a treat for us of chocolate pudding. Then he crushed Oreos like dirt, and then he put in gummy worms—so then it looked like soil because [during a class project] we planted a seed and watched it grow.” A freshman at Ukiah High School appreciated his middle school science
August 2020 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
