Homies vs. roomies

Being behind computers can put students at disadvantage

By

Javier Garcia,

Sports Editor

By

Emma Parker,

Managing Editor

Now that we are in this new learning environment, especially with the transition from everyone online to teachers and some students in the classroom while others remain at home, the expectations toward teachers and staff have understandably, necessarily even, changed.

Classes are now divided between the “roomies,” those students that are in the classroom, and the “homies,” those students that are in their homes, and teachers are expected to uphold equal opportunities for both types. But that has proven to be a challenge, creating a clear contrast between the experiences of homies and roomies.

At the beginning of the year, all of us -- students and staff alike -- were, as senior Kyle Le put it, “confused and uncomfortable.” Now, when some of us were getting comfortable, there is this new curveball of the hybrid classroom, a mix between face-to-face and remote instructions.

Some teachers have been known to ignore online students, walk away from the camera, or start a conversation with the students in class and not make them turn on their microphones or repeat what they are discussing to the students online. We’ve been told, “You should always listen to peers’ questions in case it’s a question you have,” but you can’t listen to a question you can’t even hear. It’s like Jeopardy with only Alex Trebek (may he rest in peace), all answers no questions.

According to Broward County Public Schools, “All students in a specific class or course will receive the same curriculum, assignments, and assessments. All curriculum resources, textbooks, instructional materials, demonstrations, assignments, and assessments will be delivered using distance learning technology.”

If the policy states that both in-person and online learning should receive the same education and treatment, then both in-person and online students deserve to have the same education. There will be the obvious advantages of being in-person over remaining in e-learning, such as being able to ask a teacher a question directly and immediately, but that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be efforts to match accessibility for students at home.

Nothing is more frustrating when you are in class and the students in-person are having a full conversation about the lesson with the teacher, without turning on their microphones, and the teacher gets so caught up with the conversation they don’t remind them to turn on their microphones until much later, if at all. I recognize that most teachers are just excited to have actual students in person, but that shouldn’t mean that people who choose not to go on campus should be put at a disadvantage. The education must remain fair to all of those affected by this pandemic.

All that said, there also have been obvious bright sides to having students partially return to school for learning; for instance, teachers once again being able to see if students are still writing and if they should move on to the next subject or not. It is understandably an extra burden for teachers to be perfectly accountable for roomies and homies simultaneously while still getting the proper portion of their material fairly taught. And we recognize that many teachers are doing their very best, but more has to be done if everything is to remain fair. Students should not have to pick between their personal safety and their education during a pandemic, and that can start with the teachers. Efforts need to be made to even the fields, not create vivid distinctions between the two options.