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As an adult I’ve learned that failure is a part of life. However, it’s not one we want to admit to. Failure feels uncomfortable. Failure feels unspeakable. Failure is fearful of what happens now.
This year of the Covid pandemic, there has been a great deal of failure. It’s hard to find the silver lining. I met with my last remote student yesterday and wanted to reach across the screen and cradle him. He feels like a failure. He will go back to in-person school on Monday because he couldn’t keep up with the work in the computer program he was given.
Our district has a virtual option for parents who did not want to send their children back to the buildings. The virtual option does not come with a teacher. As a gifted teacher, I was only responsible for IEP minutes, enrichment basically. I did not teach content to the virtual students. Their curriculum was through a program of videos and tasks. Virtual literally means “not real” and the program is not at all real. My student is not alone. Many students are not making it. Many are failing.
Our System has failed our Students. I do not know what this year will mean in the long run. What does the future hold? Where will we go from here? Education has failed. Our students are the victims.
Reflections on the Teche 
Oof. This kind of virtual is brutal. I’m sure your time with him was a saving grace.
I have often wondered what effects of this year we will see in these children’s futures. I guess we’ll find out. And although we have been given this opportunity to completely reimagine public schools, it’s disheartening to know that we’ll go back to mostly same-old same old.
So many layers in virtual learning. Some is over scripted. Some has no script. And unfortunately there are no “do overs.” Just as one year of a bad teacher does not ruin a student, one year of no instruction will not ruin a student. There will need to be changes to empower this student, other students, and teachers who feel like failures. People, connections, and intent do matter! What we will build anew is up to us!
I wish I felt like I had power over what will come, but unless there is light at the top, there will still be darkness underneath. This student will be OK because he’s smart. If the system doesn’t serve him, he will climb out and make something of himself. I’m not sure this is true of others.
I know I have difficulty living and working within the failed system because I am like you not comfortable with failure. Knowing that there’s a camaraderie of educators who all feel similarly helps tremendously to keep me going. Thank you.
To leave learners to learn on their own seems a big risk and destined for trouble. Hopefully there are lessons learned here and a willingness to regroup, adjust, and move forward in a different way. My heart goes out to you. This is an example of what I think is one of the hardest parts about teaching – being part of a system in which the decision makers are often too removed from the repercussions of those decisions. I hope that things get better for you and your students.
I am so glad that student has you to reassure him that he is not a failure. This has been such a learning experience for all of us. And I agree, we all at times have felt stuck at the bottom of the hole. Hugs.
Oooph. This one hits hard and I could feel your struggle here. The system of online learning is not the panacea that so many thought it would be and we are humans in need of community. I am constantly struggling to build community in my class and am failing daily, too. I wish we all had the solution, but I suppose we begin by noticing.
I love that thought “begin by noticing.” Thanks.
As you said, this is not the student’s fault. And those who have the support and wherewithal will come out alright. But most likely the weakest will be the most severely hit. I keep hoping school districts and governments (light at the top) will see a way to grant students another year. They deserve that, as do educators.
This line is so powerful: “This year of the Covid pandemic, there has been a great deal of failure. It’s hard to find the silver lining. ” I hope your student ends up finding a silver lining in going back to school. My heart goes out to him.
That is so sad. I worry about so many of our students who have missed so much.
Wow–that sounds like a rough way to do virtual teaching/learning. I can understand asynchronous, but not no teacher! I hope this student finds his footing–he is not failing, the system is failing him!
Kim
So much truth in this. Luckily, we have been face-to-face the entire year minus eight days after Christmas and snow days/elearning days. Most of the kids did not do well under this system. I am not sure how our virtual kids are doing, as we have the same system – no teacher, just a program.
Margaret, at my school, we’ve had so, so many conversations around the failures – that of systems, visions, mentalities. Many teachers and students alike feel like failures, yet I see the vicious cycle continuing with a grade level wanting to retain a third of their students. Answers may be long and problematic – but this isn’t one of them. If ever there was a time for creativity and ingenuity in the name of humanity, it’s now. There are student faces in my mind as I write.