Ugh. Just found out that my kids’ school will absolutely be teaching remotely next YEAR. They may or may not allow some portion of the student body back on campus to live, but it looks like at most 40%. (No clarity until July whether that means freshman and athletes, freshman and seniors minus internationals and immunocompromised, or what). But with only 5-40% living on campus, clearly extracurriculars won’t be happening (at least in any remotely appealing way…Zoom ECs do not count in my book). Living on campus sounds depressing anyway, all singles and common areas closed off. Eating dinner alone in your single bedroom, where you attend class via Zoom sounds soul-crushing. My kids have MUCH better lives at home right now, as “essential workers” mingling (with masks) with the people.
Just a little background, I teach on campus and am 50 years old. I am happily going back to teach on campus in the fall (with masks and social distance). I wish all of my kids’ healthy, less-than-60-year-old professors would teach in person, with precautions (and with choice).
I know some on this forum have sounded disdainful when they refer to “the experience” of residential college, as if they are just imagining fraternity parties. But to me, the “experience” is probably a better education than the classes are. The ECs include everything from teams designing and then actually building wells for clean water in 3rd world countries in Engineers without borders, to writing or otherwise participating in ridiculously professional-caliber-level plays, to building drones for competitions, to truly impactful student government initiatives, to healthcare ECs to amazing journalism opportunities, to yes, fun stuff. The best aspect of the education at my kids’ school comes from learning and mingling with amazing peers. Yes, the professors are awesome!! The course material fantastic and important. But literally that part of the education is less than 25% of their education there. So limiting their education to remote learning is utterly devastating to me. I am fully aware that there are many commuter students in America who do not benefit from all of these extracurricular opportunities, no need to remind!! But to me, the vast majority of education occurs on-campus but outside the classroom, despite my respect (as one who teaches, no-less) for the teaching!
So, why the rant? Sorry, I needed to vent, as this is new, depressing information to me. I guess I’m looking for a little sympathy? Is their life over? No!! Other people had college interrupted due to war—believe me, I do have the ability to put this in perspective. I’ll probably get over it soon. But right now I’m sad to hear this.
Plus, I am about to start a major search on gap year options. Pretty sure I’m going to recommend my kids not go to school next year. They have already clamored for this. One blessing with my kids’ school; they do not limit and in fact encourage unlimited gap years with no bad repercussions. Quick google search showed that already a bunch of countries such as beautiful Croatia are allowing American tourists; Europe is now opening up to other European tourists and are likely to take Americans by sometime in the fall. Lots of cool things to do domestically. Just saw more sections of Appalachian Trail are open and loads of national parks. Opportunities to volunteer as contact tracers or other key roles to help with Covid or BLM. Not sure which way I’ll point them. But they themselves have expressed incredible unhappiness at the thought of remote learning next year, and I will support them in seeking alternatives uses of their time. Oh boy, sorry for posting this long message. Probably should buy myself a journal. But thought maybe it would be interesting (?) for some to hear how disappointed people can be at the thought of remote instruction this fall. Just crushing. Waaaaaaaah.