“Back” To School: What The Pandemic Will Mean For The Future of American Schools

By Isabel Hahn

Orange County School of the Arts

In mid March, schools across America announced the cancelling of in-person classes for the rest of the school year. Now, as all 50 states are beginning to reopen again, students, teachers, and parents are all wondering what school life will look like in the fall. 

The decision to reopen schools has become unclear mainly due to the uncertainty that surrounds the coronavirus crisis’s progression. Those in governmental positions are finding it hard to come to a definite agreement. The futures of millions of students, the health of families and employees, and the jobs of millions of educators are all at stake. Many students across the country have had trouble with learning issues and significant setbacks in productivity without the reliability of in-person classes. 

The situation for reopening schools seems to differ by each state. Though most states have acknowledged that a “normal” back to school must be reconsidered, in Florida, schools have been ordered to start full-time in-person classes at least five days a week. Most school districts are following the social distancing guidelines from the CDC. California, for example, has proposed that students be broken up into smaller groups and attend school around twice a week, and use distance learning tools for the rest of the week. New York has also seemed to agree with this hybrid learning model. However, as cases continue to surge in  numerous states, members of school communities are arguing that schools should not reopen at all, and that states are prioritizing economic recovery over the safety of students and staff. 

If some schools do end up reopening in the fall, the situation will be far from normal. Students will be required to wear face coverings and teachers will try to get students to maintain a distance of six feet. Classroom sizes will obviously have to be reduced. Along with mandatory disinfection of surfaces and shared equipment, it is predicted that students will have to go through required symptom screenings everyday, including a fever check. 

This current question at hand is definitely not a light one, as school administrators are forced to choose between the safety and the productivity of students. No matter the path decided to be taken, it is certain that it will significantly affect the futures of children all across America. Attending school may never feel the same again.