Failing grades up by 83 percent as online learning takes its toll on students
Student's are failing key
classes; F's are up by a whopping 83 percent this year with children
with learning disabilities struggling the most—their F's are up over 100
percent, the Washington Post reported.
BREAKING: Stunning data for Fairfax County, VA's largest school system, shows HUGE academic cost of online learning — Fs up by 83% this year.
— Hannah Natanson (@hannah_natanson) November 24, 2020
Vulnerable children struggling most: Fs for students w/ disabilities up by 111%, for English learners up by 106% https://t.co/wrkIy2V9k2
Hannah Natanson tweeted that "Hispanic children are suffering more than any other racial group. F's for them up by 92%. And they're underperforming in English and math by large margins: 42% in Math, 47% in English." She also remarked that "35% of all kids [are] underperforming in math, 39% in English."
BREAKING: Stunning data for Fairfax County, VA's largest school system, shows HUGE academic cost of online learning — Fs up by 83% this year.
— Hannah Natanson (@hannah_natanson) November 24, 2020
Vulnerable children struggling most: Fs for students w/ disabilities up by 111%, for English learners up by 106% https://t.co/wrkIy2V9k2
"Also younger kids are experiencing more serious effects. F's for Fairfax high-schoolers are up by 50%," Natason tweeted. F's are up by 300 percent among middle schoolers.
Although Fairfax County schools have outlined reopening plans for in-person learning, only children with special education needs have been given the green light to learn in-person. Fairfax County is one of the wealthiest counties in the country--the district spends nearly $16,000 per student, according to a 2018 estimate. Data like this shows remote learning is simply untenable for kids, no matter how hard teachers may try to facilitate it.
This Minnesota mother tweeted a photo of her daughter struggling to learn remotely—it has since gone viral.
This is distance learning. My kids are suffering. My family is suffering. My heart is completely broken. This is not sustainable. Don’t you dare comment that, “your kids are doing great” or “we all need to sacrifice to keep people safe” because YOU don’t know MY circumstances. 💔 pic.twitter.com/xeJnF6RyYf
— Ali (@AliOnCities971) November 23, 2020
Public health officials have said repeatedly schools should be the last thing to close, as far back as the summer. Yet they keep closing.
Doctor: schools should be kept open as much as possible @DAChristakis discusses https://t.co/YsaSvVYbXR pic.twitter.com/nEDGOcvOAr
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) November 20, 2020
States are often leaving businesses like bars and restaurants open but closing schools. This is directly contraindicated by guidance.
NYC will close public schools due to rise in Covid positivity rate. But why leave bars, restaurants open? @drsanjaygupta discusses pic.twitter.com/lgsjw1DuRt
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) November 18, 2020
The data from Virginia is unlikely to be replicated in the nation's largest school system, as New York City has just stopped issuing failing grades altogether.
Meanwhile NYC has decided to completely cover up this problem by simply not giving failing grades this year. No failing grades means no failing, right? https://t.co/XZVhYm5Z5P
— Karol Markowicz (@karol) November 25, 2020
While parents are undoubtedly struggling to balance work and facilitating remote learning, and teachers are likely just as frustrated with students who are finding remote learning difficult, if not impossible, the greatest burden of remote learning falls on students.
Remote learning is untenable for children struggling to gain access to the internet, navigate complicated portals, or even for those who are just trying to learn to read. These failing grades show remote learning is not the best path forward for a generation of kids trying to gain an education during this pivotal time in their lives. We must do better for today's young people: Open the schools.
Source: Post Millennial
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