Children of the Pandemic

 

"When the children return to school

we will need to listen to them."

Irish Holtry

An interesting letter written by Irish Holtry, an Upstate New York superintendent, shifted my narrow minded thinking about the effects of the pandemic.  The letter directed to friends and colleagues, emphasized how to embrace these students of the pandemic ... to learn and listen new history from them.

This superintendent's concern was our tendency to want to bring these students "up to speed" or focus on test based deficits that no longer apply There is a new history to be learned from these students and peers need to help them relate to these experiences.  They have suffered through the death of a relative or pet, what the created absence means, and how to deal with death.

Students desire will be to relate to their peers and teachers, to share what they have missed and articulate what they need.  They did not miss homework, lesson plans or tests.  They missed the relationship with others to understand the unimaginable upside down world they have been isolated in. Working with the children needs to take precedence, teaching them tools to adjust to the new world.