Erin Schmalzle

Teachers as well as students are enduring this tough time. Moving all assignments to online and keeping up with what’s being turned in is in the hands of the teachers. The district, however, hasn’t been getting enough credit. 

    “Overall I am amazed by how [distance learning] is going,” social studies teacher Mrs. Erin Schmalzle said. “There was a huge turnaround from being in a classroom to being online. Thankfully everyone is very understanding of the learning curve. On the side of the teachers and the students, everybody has to get used to this.”

Who knew this learning curve could advance teachers as well as students more than before? “I have definitely gotten better with technology. I’ve been able to work with Mrs. Augsbach more. She showed me how to present things in a different way that will be helpful for more students, getting information to the students efficiently,” Mrs. Schmalzle said.

However, facing reality, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. The system obviously has its downsides; however, it’s inevitable and no one should be faulted for it. 

     “The most difficult thing for me would be separating home and school. I tend to still get up early, still work late, so it’s hard to separate the two when you’re always working. But I am realizing that I don’t have to get the assignment back the day it’s completed. I like the 1-4 grading system. It puts less emphasis on the grades and more on what students are actually learning,” Mrs. Schmalzle said. 

Mrs. Schmalzle said the district is making the best out of the situation and is being optimistic. “I really think it’s going okay. This setup seems the most like having an actual school day.

Behind this optimism lies a little bit of doubt as well. Teachers’ outlooks on students returning to school this year wasn’t high even before Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that buildings would be closed through June. “I am very doubtful that we are going to go back at all, Mrs. Schmalzle said before the announcement. The reason is because of how much cleaning would have to be done on a regular basis. It would be difficult, as a mom and a professional, to worry about the people around me being asymptomatic. But maybe I’m wrong, let’s hope I’m wrong,” Mrs. Schmalzle said.

Even if this is the case, everyone is looking forward to some type of normality. “[My extended family and I] have been staying pretty socially distanced, so I can’t wait to give them all really long hugs,” Mrs. Schmalzle said.