EDUCATION
Getting an education can be stressful during the best of times but for the past year, students have coped with much more than reading, writing and arithmetic.
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Trends In Education
LESSON PLANS
INDIAN RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT
Coronavirus pandemic has forever changed
the future of education
BY ELLEN GILLETTE
In March of last year, local schools shut down for the
remainder of the academic year because of the coronavirus
pandemic, disrupting end-of-year plans. With school
buses once more visible weekday mornings, it’s hard to
tell how many students are actually attending area brick-andmortar
facilities.
Unlike some areas, Treasure Coast schools opened in the
fall with changes that balanced bolstering students’ skills
with safeguarding them from illness. Indian River County
started the year with the highest percentage at home — 62%.
In St. Lucie, the number was 52%. Martin began the year with
38% at home. Area Catholic schools began with 20%. In all
districts, many students have returned while others remain
at home. Some switch back and forth due to exposure to
COVID-19 or illness. It’s been quite the roller coaster ride for
everyone concerned — and we should all be concerned.
What does the future hold? Globally, more than a million
students have been affected by the pandemic. Educational
technology has surged. Virtual conferences and tutoring have
increased. The pandemic, experts say, is the new benchmark.
Moving forward, everything will change.
Some herald the fact that per-pupil costs for remote learners
are less than for students at school. Others suggest that
sports programs move from schools to community-based
programs. School closings showed that a quality school day
can be accomplished in two to three hours, raising questions
of why students attend more than twice that. Some say remote
learning is more effective, while others say the opposite. >>