Photo Courtesy Of SLOHS

  With San Luis Obispo High School back to in-person learning as of yesterday, students who will remain on distance learning have concerns about whether or not their educational experience is being accounted for, as much of the current layouts arguably favor the students who are to return to campus.

  “Since I am doing distance learning, the schedule changes from 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. to 12 p.m.-3:30  p.m., which completely messes up my work schedule and puts me at risk of losing my job. The board focuses so much on the students that are coming back [to in-person instruction], that the distance learning students end up in the dust without any structure or warning as to what the new covid plans are. I know that I am at a disadvantage because I wasn’t informed as to the schedule that would be in place [until recently] and now I have to try to keep my motivation to do school until it starts at 12,” said junior Shannon Hurley.

  Like Hurley, I have found difficulty in trying to rearrange my schedule to suit the newly constructed time allotted for school. It makes sense to have in-person classes take place in the morning, as to regulate COVID-19 safety precautions as much as possible, however, why should distance learning students’ conveniences be disregarded just because they are not returning to campus?

  It seems highly inconvenient to have nearly eight months of education begin at 9:00 a.m., for schedules to alter a whole three hours to place distance learners at 12:05 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., especially for students who have had to conform to the already stressful times, this schedule does not seem to swiftly coincide with the routines that distance learning students have already become accustomed to.

  Though frustrating for many, the new distance learning outline has some benefits.

  “I am staying distanced, but I don’t personally feel like I am at a disadvantage because I prefer working independently and on my own terms, however this is definitely not the case for all people. I know there are some people who work best in person but they have other factors prohibiting them from going in person. Those are the people who are at a real disadvantage because they have to cater to needs other than their personal preference and learning style,” said junior Sophia Lea.

  This newly constructed schedule disregards the needs of many, but not all, students who will remain on distance learning, specifically for those who have tried to gain levels of independence and or have been forced to gain responsibilities during this pandemic.

  Hurley created a solution, which not only accounts for the student population, but additionally, includes the SLOHS teachers and staffs’ well-being.

  “If we continued starting off the day with school and put distance learning students into the in person classes by putting cameras in their classrooms, we wouldn’t have to have basically two separate school days in one. We would all learn simultaneously, just at different places,” said Hurley.

  As SLOHS will presumably enter back into this half-distance half-present learning, we need to come together to find a solution that works for many, and not just a portion of the population who will actually be seen on campus. Distance learners need to know that their voices are being heard, and that their ideas are being thoroughly considered.