Educating Generation COVID
The Long-Term Effects of a Pandemic on Learning
KEN MAGILL
There is Generation X , Generation Y and Generation Z . Now there is a new generation on the scene — Generation COVID — a group of young people whose education for the past two years has been characterized by virtual learning , mask mandates , social distancing , lack of continuity , student disengagement and overall uncertainty . While no one can predict how the COVID-19 pandemic and all the measures taken to combat it will affect current elementary , middle and high school or college students , it doesn ’ t require a crystal ball to see they will feel the effects for years to come — if not for the rest of their lives .
In spite of the uncertainty , West Virginia ’ s education community is taking steps at every level to address the immediate challenges — the first of which is getting students caught up for time lost in lockdown , a process that will not happen overnight .
“ The idea that we ’ re going to get these kids caught up academically where they should be by the end of this school year is not a realistic expectation ,” says Dr . Eddie Campbell , superintendent of Monongalia County Schools . “ This could take three or four years , and I ’ ve read some projections that we may be five years down the road trying to get kids caught up .”
Thinking long-term , this means many students who do not have five years left in the school system may be left without some of the knowledge and skills required to take the next steps , whether that be post-secondary education or entering the workforce . The thought begs many questions about the future of this generation ’ s high school students .
“ Are they going to be prepared to enter the workforce like they should be ?” asks Campbell . “ Are they going to be prepared to go on to university or college and study like they should be ? It ’ s going to have an impact on higher education , it ’ s going to have an impact on the workforce , and obviously , it ’ s going to have an impact on these kids ’ abilities to earn incomes .”
Campbell believes there are several large socioeconomic aspects to COVID-19 and the interruptions it caused in education that will be seen for years to come . The most immediate challenge isn ’ t even getting students caught up academically , Campbell says . It ’ s getting them in a good place socially and emotionally .
“ We can ’ t do anything academically until we get them in the right place socially , emotionally and behaviorally ,” says Campbell . “ It ’ s going to be very difficult to make progress academically until we see those things firm up .”
As a result , Monongalia County Schools invested heavily in additional support personnel , from recently received federal funds .
“ Intensive tutoring is going to be high on our priority list , especially during this year and even into next year ,” says Campbell . “ We ’ ve invested in more support personnel to assist us at the school level , whether that be additional school nurses , school psychologists or outreach specialists . We ’ ve also added school guidance counselors so we have at least one full-time guidance counselor in every school , including elementary schools .”
This summer , West Virginia schools received more than $ 760 million in federal funds under the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund . West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch said in a statement announcing the funding that Mountain State leadership is focusing on making sure students and staff have the support they need to recover from the social and emotional distress caused or heightened by the pandemic and
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