Consent, Sydney Clarke…………………………………………………………………………70 COVID Lockdown, Daniel Logozzo Competitiveness, Mulhammad Abdulhafiz……………………………………………………75

Covid Lockdown

Daniel Logozzo

During the Covid-19 (C-19) pandemic, society endured severe restrictions in the name of public health. Based on statistics and other information about C-19, it was believed that the elderly and the immunocompromised were at risk of possible harm or death from the virus, with significantly less risk to children and healthy young people. Based on this information, in conjunction with the media driven fear of high transmissibility and death, restrictions that were meant to protect the elderly and the medically vulnerable members of our society were implemented. Since it was believed that school aged children would be vectors of the virus, devastating the already devastated health care system, governments decided to put the children last on their list of priorities. The result was the longest and most complete ‘school lockdown’ in history that included daycares and elementary schools as well as high schools, and postsecondary institutions. During the covid lockdown, remote learning became commonplace and young students across the province suffered academically, socially, mentally, and physically, while the education system and educators were stretched well beyond their capacity. ‘Covid lockdown’ is reminiscent of the worst time in the lives of many young people. Academically, it was wasted time for many students, particularly for the very young whose academic foundation was yet to be formed. Many did not fare well with the digital classroom format, sitting alone in front of a computer screen is not an ideal learning environment for young children with limited attention spans. While underprivileged kids with no access to a personal computer or internet were left behind; school boards made efforts to provide the necessary tools for them to keep up with their classes. Students did not have the ability to socialize with their peers, isolation affected their ability to make friends, while the very young missed the opportunity to learn about behavioral expectations. This isolation played a part in the marked

increase in youth suicides and mental health crises, as teachers are often the first to identify signs of abuse or mental health issues (SickKids releases new research on how COVID-19 pandemic

has impacted child and youth mental, Physical Health). Students missed the opportunity to be physically active because they could not participate in school sports or gym classes, while many never left their homes for fresh air. According to the CDC, the BMI of school aged children nearly doubled during the lockdowns (Children, obesity, and covid-19 2022). This has a direct co-relation to increasing the risk of other severe illnesses in these children such as heart disease and diabetes, which ironically are risk factors for illness due to C-19 itself. By mitigating the risk to the frail and ill, covid lockdowns increased the risk for children to acquire the virus that the lockdowns were meant to mitigate in the first place. Covid lockdowns have placed a spotlight on the importance of the school experience for children. Covid lockdowns have helped society realize that schools are necessary to produce academic success, social success, stable mental health, and the good physical health habits necessary for the long and healthy lives of our children.

Academic Source

Maximova, K., Khan, M. K. A., Dabravolskaj, J., Maunula, L., Ohinmaa, A., & Veugelers, P. J. (2021). Perceived changes in lifestyle behaviours and in mental health and wellbeing of elementary school children during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Canada. Public

Health, 202, 35–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2021.10.007

Non-Academic Source

Rushowy, K., & Teotonio, I. (2022, June 20). Many students fell behind in the pandemic but the

youngest ones are hurting most. learning loss is the least of it. thestar.com. Retrieved

October 24, 2022, from https://www. thestar.com/news/gta/2022/06/20/many-studentsfell-behind-in-the-pandemic-but-the-youngest-ones-are-hurting-most-learning-loss-is-theleast-of-it.html

Competitiveness

Mulhammad Abdulhafiz

The word I’ve chosen for this keyword assignment is “Competitiveness”. I’ve chosen a podcast as the medium and attached the link to the podcast below.

Link to podcast: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kyHWR7UbUAtuxBnJRCEoQ4hD_ZTTAll/view?usp=share_link

Resources:

HEMA LATHA, P. (2010, November). THE ROLE OF COMPETITION ON ADOLESCENTS. https://www.pravahindia.org/. Retrieved November 13, 2022, from https://pravahdelhi.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/teachers-research-publication.pdf

Schneider, Woodburn, S. S., Pilar Soteras del Toro, M. del, & Udvari, S. J. (2005). Cultural and Gender Differences in the Implications of Competition for Early Adolescent Friendship. MerrillPalmer Quarterly, 51(2), 163–191. https://doi.org/10.1353/mpq.2005.0013