Teachers continue parenting offline

Preston Kwok & Jessica Conley

Managing students online can be a challenge for some teachers, but it is a greater challenge when teachers must additionally attend to their child’s needs as well.

Jarrod Harrison is one of many teachers who has a child at home. In addition to teaching five classes, he must also care for his young son.

“There’s been a few times where my son has come in to goof off or show something on screen and been very distracting while I’m trying to talk. I find talking on Zoom is distracting, it’s just not normal for me and I’m still getting my mind around it,” Harrison said.

Despite these challenges, Harrison has been fortunate to have his son’s elementary school open up with a hybrid schedule. Instead of having him at home all day, his son stays at school until the mid-afternoon. However, before his son went back to school, he had to manage some of his distractions.

While it may seem distracting to have his son at home often, Harrison makes his best effort to give an even amount of time for his child and his school. He knows that if he does not give enough time for his son, it could be harmful for him.

“I’m motivated to be a decent parent, and I try to make sure my son has as normal of a life as possible given all the circumstances. I’m just trying to think about my seven-year-old, what’s he going to look like in 10 years? What is this going to do to his generation?” Harrison said. As Harrison continues to work on balancing between his son and his job, he strives to eliminate any extra stress from both his students’ and his son’s lives.

Similarly to Harrison, Andrew and Karen Ramroth are tasked with taking care of their one-year-old son. However, they have not had to deal with as many problems as some of their colleagues.

“I’ve had some lessons with my son asleep in my arms, others with him pretty upset tugging on my leg and others where I’m feeding him snacks to keep him happy. It all works out and I think the students like it,” Ramroth said.

The Ramroths planned how to adjust their classes so that their son wouldn’t affect how they teach.

“We can find ways to keep him entertained while we teach and we’ve found ways to give students tasks to do if we need to jump off camera,” said Ramroth.

While these teachers have had to find a balance between taking care of their younger child and their classes, students whose parents are teachers have a unique experience as well.

“The only time my parents have had to juggle both me and their work is when I need a college essay to be proofread or when I have basic questions,” Jacey Kelly, a senior, said. “I don’t think it’s a hassle because they’re the ones who are always asking me if I need help.”

Unlike Harrison and the Ramroth’s sons, Kelly added that it’s been easier for her parents since she’s a senior and fairly independent.

“It would definitely be a bigger challenge for them if I was younger, even just in middle school,” Kelly said.

Despite the challenges these teachers may experience, they continue to adapt to the situation and always seek the best outcome.

Anika Marino