Schools Increasingly Go Online During Disasters
2022-09-21
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1More school systems around the country are using online classes when communities face disasters like wildfires, storms, or water shortages.
2In Jackson, Mississippi, a problem with the public water system left the city without safe water for several days.
3As a result, schools went online for one week.
4The time in remote learning did not last long for the 20,000-student school system in Jackson.
5Enough water pressure was returned earlier this month for children to go back to in-person learning.
6And last week, the city said water was safe for normal use.
7However, online learning increased the disruption for children and teachers.
8At home, children attending online classes often had their whole family in the house.
9Early in 2020, school officials had high hopes for remote learning.
10Since then, the problems with it have become clearer.
11The change to online learning caused many students to fall behind where they should be in their studies.
12And it added to new worries about students' mental health.
13At the same time, the push to online learning led to increased use of technology, which made remote learning possible on a large scale.
14In 2018, two powerful storms hit the same areas in North Carolina, causing schools in some places to close.
15Some students were out of school for weeks.
16There were attempts at remote learning, but many children did not have laptop computers or other technology.
17As a result, most schools tried to move students to other in-person buildings, said Gary Henry.
18He is head of the University of Delaware's College of Education and Human Development and has been part of a research team studying the effects of remote learning.
19Henry said school systems now will look first to online learning.
20For a period of a few weeks, he said it could be a way to keep students on track.
21But the pandemic showed that it is not effective over a long period of time.
22Schools in Mora, New Mexico, for example, switched to remote learning last April when the town was evacuated because of a wildfire.
23It was a difficult start, Superintendent Marvin MacAuley said.
24Some of the displaced students and teachers were in evacuation centers and did not have computer technology.
25As time went on, people were able to get computers or get on the internet.
26In mid-August, students went back to school, in person, for the first time since the fire.
27"When there's a lot of stuff that has happened, it's better to have the kids in person so you can see how they are, take note of their behaviors and provide the support to them," MacAuley said.
28In Cresskill, New Jersey, after a strong ocean storm hit in 2021, the building containing the high school and middle school was flooded.
29The school system had no choice but to start the school year online.
30School Superintendent Michael Burke said that learning online is rough for kids' mental health issues.
31"It's rough for kids for socialization. And it's hard for parents who have to arrange for someone to be home."
32After a period of time, Cresskill offered both online and in-person teaching.
33The school system worked with a local religious group to use its 14 classrooms.
34Later, in February, the school moved into a neighboring town's church building so students could go to class every day.
35Sarah Barrs has a daughter going to school in Cresskill.
36"It's not school," she said of remote learning.
37"It's a last resort and it shouldn't be a crutch that we rely on for school."
38In Jackson, Mississippi, fifth-grade teacher Ryan Johnson used his experience from the pandemic to help new teachers at his school.
39They faced the same problems when the school system moved online during the city's water crisis.
40Teachers worked hard last year to help students improve, he said.
41But he said he worries about the possible effects of another long school closure.
42I'm Dan Novak.
1More school systems around the country are using online classes when communities face disasters like wildfires, storms, or water shortages. 2In Jackson, Mississippi, a problem with the public water system left the city without safe water for several days. As a result, schools went online for one week. 3The time in remote learning did not last long for the 20,000-student school system in Jackson. Enough water pressure was returned earlier this month for children to go back to in-person learning. And last week, the city said water was safe for normal use. 4However, online learning increased the disruption for children and teachers. At home, children attending online classes often had their whole family in the house. 5Early in 2020, school officials had high hopes for remote learning. Since then, the problems with it have become clearer. The change to online learning caused many students to fall behind where they should be in their studies. And it added to new worries about students' mental health. 6At the same time, the push to online learning led to increased use of technology, which made remote learning possible on a large scale. 7In 2018, two powerful storms hit the same areas in North Carolina, causing schools in some places to close. Some students were out of school for weeks. There were attempts at remote learning, but many children did not have laptop computers or other technology. 8As a result, most schools tried to move students to other in-person buildings, said Gary Henry. He is head of the University of Delaware's College of Education and Human Development and has been part of a research team studying the effects of remote learning. 9Henry said school systems now will look first to online learning. For a period of a few weeks, he said it could be a way to keep students on track. But the pandemic showed that it is not effective over a long period of time. 10Schools in Mora, New Mexico, for example, switched to remote learning last April when the town was evacuated because of a wildfire. 11It was a difficult start, Superintendent Marvin MacAuley said. Some of the displaced students and teachers were in evacuation centers and did not have computer technology. As time went on, people were able to get computers or get on the internet. 12In mid-August, students went back to school, in person, for the first time since the fire. 13"When there's a lot of stuff that has happened, it's better to have the kids in person so you can see how they are, take note of their behaviors and provide the support to them," MacAuley said. 14In Cresskill, New Jersey, after a strong ocean storm hit in 2021, the building containing the high school and middle school was flooded. The school system had no choice but to start the school year online. 15School Superintendent Michael Burke said that learning online is rough for kids' mental health issues. "It's rough for kids for socialization. And it's hard for parents who have to arrange for someone to be home." 16After a period of time, Cresskill offered both online and in-person teaching. The school system worked with a local religious group to use its 14 classrooms. Later, in February, the school moved into a neighboring town's church building so students could go to class every day. 17Sarah Barrs has a daughter going to school in Cresskill. "It's not school," she said of remote learning. "It's a last resort and it shouldn't be a crutch that we rely on for school." 18In Jackson, Mississippi, fifth-grade teacher Ryan Johnson used his experience from the pandemic to help new teachers at his school. They faced the same problems when the school system moved online during the city's water crisis. 19Teachers worked hard last year to help students improve, he said. But he said he worries about the possible effects of another long school closure. 20I'm Dan Novak. 21Brooke Schultz reported this story for the Associated Press. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. 22____________________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24disruption -n. something that makes it impossible to continue in a normal way 25remote - adj. far away; distant 26scale -n. the size or level of something 27on track -phrase happening as it should or is expected 28evacuate - v. to leave or be taken out of a place because of danger 29last resort - n. the last remaining choice or possibility 30crutch - n. something that is used too much for help or support