support to the public from the state is one of the main COVID induced policies that should continue. Canada, as an example, has offered a variety of financial support to both individuals and businesses when things got hard. In Ontario specifically there are remaining supports for individuals suffering from being unable to meet rent or pay their utility bills. There is remaining aid for those who are influenced by things they cannot control. Instead of relying on insurance, the government took ownership of the unpredictable to ensure that people did not suffer. Pandemics fall into that category, sure, but so does being laid off, getting sick, or being subject to crime. States tend to rely on insurance to fill these gaps but they cannot possibly fill them all. It is argued constantly that we do not have the money to pay for these failsafes but clearly in a time of crisis we found the money somewhere. I am not saying that every state can afford or could easily implement a widespread welfare system to help the suddenly unemployed, sick, and unfortunate; that is something that governments have been trying to do since the beginning of time. Though, through the presence of an international crisis it has become easier to push these policies forward politically and the momentum garnered from political decisions should be promoted and encouraged past a pandemic era. Another piece of policy presenting its best foot forward is hybrid learning. Katherine Boyarsky has presented a fascinating case against the common narrative that online learning has zero benefits to students and teachers. It is a narrative that is easy to understand as a student who has THE OBSERVER
personally felt burnt out by the endless Zoom calls, but Boyarsky argues convincingly for a blend of in person and online learning. For one, school is more accessible and can provide a more catered learning style for students. It allows teachers to offer far more accessible “office hours” to children to be enriched and tutored in a way that fits them best. More so, it also aids children who need to stay home often due to illness, either physical or mental, or who are overstimulated by constant social engagement. This way children are still adjusting in the proper socialized environments, getting outside, making friends, but also being able to step away from an unbelievably stressful environment. Hybrid learning is something we stumbled upon by accident but could be a blessing to the students of the future. The best part about Hybrid learning is the flexibility and its optional status. Children who need to be in school for affordable childcare or because they do not have WiFi at home would still absolutely be able to go into class. Though, the best solution for all would also be affordable or, better yet, school funded technology for older kids to have Hybrid days when they need them and can stay at home alone. The last policy measure that XVIII.3
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