What I Hope My Kids Are Learning From The 2020 Pandemic
Marissa Dionne Mead
When schools closed last month, I immediately started to worry about my elementary-aged children falling behind in their schoolwork. Like many parents, my husband and I are suddenly acutely aware of our inadequacy as homeschoolers. Our tactics for maintaining a reasonable work-from-home environment are not winning any parenting awards. Screen time? Yes. Cereal for lunch? Sure. Basement mosh pit filled knee-deep with legos? Check.
But I’ve come to realize that - while there is a lot to worry about – the education of our children is not in peril. Sure, the typical curriculum is on pause and standardized testing cancelled, but there are a lot of important lessons to learn from disruption. For me it has been reassuring to think about life lessons that are currently being played on fast-forward:
1. To be adaptable. Our country’s education paradigm was instantly upended and our nation’s educators responded in a matter of days (like the true guardians of knowledge that they have always been). My children saw their teachers strategically shift to online learning, posting assignments, sharing inspirational videos and holding group video chats - all with positive messaging and encouragement. We’re also spending more time together watching weird science videos, cooking, painting, playing music and taking walks.
Classroom work shifted format. Literally overnight. This generation of young students is learning that learning is adaptable. Learning happens everywhere. Education is important no matter where it takes place and we can totally roll with it. Learning is adaptable and so are we.
2. To be self-guided. With school lessons now so easily accessible, the workload can be overwhelming. Some lists of assignments on google classroom take multiple minutes just to scroll through. Yes, there is discipline in learning to do the work without prompting, but there is also a discipline in learning when to stop. And there is a value in being able to determine when and where we do our best work.
This generation of kids is learning to set goals, find a groove, and set a pace to their work. They are learning this earlier than ever. One of our kids finishes assignments back-to-back while standing at the dining table. Another works in spurts, moving to different locations throughout the day for different types of work. This level of self-knowledge is important and could positively impact their approach to schoolwork (and career work) in the future.
3. To be the masters and caretakers of our domain. We are five people crammed into a relatively small home. We do not have an office space to accommodate working or schooling from home. But we have been thoughtful in setting up our temporary zones. A side-table at a window is an office. The dining room is great for group projects. A tub is a decent place to take a conference (with or without video depending). Each of us has a preferred home-base but ultimately everything is shared and must be treated accordingly.
This generation of kids is learning to make their workspace work for them. And they’re learning to work cooperatively in close quarters. They are learning to prioritize natural light and to adjust position and location as necessary throughout the day. They are learning to keep their physical work environment organized and mobile. They are learning to participate in the cleaning and care of a home so that the function of a room can shift and turn with the clock. Participating in the rearrangement and fluidity of a physical environment does not always come naturally. At home we are learning to be the cooperative masters of our domain and this is a skill that can be useful in the broader world as well.
4. To value our public places. This one has a special place in my architect heart. It’s sort of understood that well-kept, well-loved public places are good for our urban lives. But municipalities and property owners do not always prioritize the creation and maintenance of these social spaces, and our younger residents have not always treated public zones with respect and care. These days, we dearly miss the library and the park. We miss our cozy neighborhood cultural center and the playground. We miss all the places that we, as a community, must cherish.
Perhaps this generation of kids will remember this sense of longing and will recognize the social value inherent in our gathering spaces. Perhaps as teenagers they’ll buck the norm and will treasure, support, and care for our public places.
5. To be a good neighbor. As schools closed and resources began to dwindle, segments of our population immediately became more vulnerable. And nearly immediately, the helpers emerged. Seamstresses, bakers, teachers, and artists began finding creative ways to help the broader community. My kids have participated in preparing a meal and groceries for a neighbor in need. They’ve watched as we carefully orchestrated how to support and patron our favorite local businesses. They have listened to the announcements from the school district on free school-lunch distributions, laptop loans, and discounted internet service.
This generation of kids is witnessing how to support one another through a crisis so that we can emerge relatively intact on the other side. They are learning that we cannot allow misfortune to destroy our communities.
6. To care for the flock. Many of us, fortunately, are not sick. However, we are participating in social distancing in order to stop, or at least slow, the spread of an illness that could hurt many.
This generation of kids is learning, firsthand, what it means to be a member of a herd. We are uncomfortable for the moment, yes, but this is to make sure that we and our neighbors, cousins and grandparents have the best chance to be well or at least the best chance to get medical help if needed.
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I am positive that there will be an audible, collective sigh of relief when schools reopen. In the meantime, let’s not worry too much about what was lost in the classroom this year. Our kids are resilient. They are also curious and observant and taking in so much more right now than we probably realize. This Covid-19 education may have some tough lessons for everyone, but there can be positive takeaways, too. Resiliency, adaptability, self-discipline, self-care, good citizenship. What we learn in times of crisis will shape our future for the better.
