There are expectations from Governor Tate Reeves as well as the State Department of Education that the learning process will continue despite the current pandemic that has closed school facilities.
We sat in a press conference with State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carey Wright last week, and those people at the state level expect to see public education continue in the state’s schools despite the fact that classes have been called off for the remainder of this year.
Wright said it will be up to local school systems to see that this happens.
Online learning got off to a slow start in Simpson County with Deputy Superintendent Debbie Davis originally reporting that only 10 percent of the county’s students voluntarily logged on to the internet to participate in computer based distance learning during the first week of classes being resumed online after a prolonged spring break.
The next course of action came from passing out packets of student work that were to be turned back in to the schools. That program was canceled so the work was never collected.
This Monday Superintendent Greg Paes met with staff to determine a course of action for the rest of the year.
At this point the plan for the rest of this school year is to use online learning through the iReady instruction program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. This program is already part of the curriculum that has been used for student instruction in math and English/language arts and includes five days of instructional video. Teachers are available by telephone or e-mail to assist students or parents.
Paes said there is also a virtual book club where students and teachers can discuss books they’ve read. As an added plus at 7:30 nightly younger students can watch guest readers read them a bedtime story.
High school students will obtain instruction through Google Classroom, which is accessed through their student e-mail accounts. Students will receive assignments and submit their work using this method.
Students who do not have digital access to lessons through the internet or the necessary equipment to use Google Access will have access through student learning packets. The next distribution is set for Tuesday, April 28. Additional information about the packets will be distributed through the one-call system and the school district’s web site.
Distance learning is a new process for Simpson County students, but it is one that has been discussed and used on the college level for several years. It may be that its time has come, at least in crisis situations, and the people in Simpson County must get on board.
There are some examples of distance learning working really well right here in our county. Parents and students, let’s do everyone a favor and become part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
