March 19, 2021
March 2020 marked a significant turning point in our lives. I closed my classroom door, thinking it would be for just a long weekend, and picked up my kids from preschool as usual. Shortly after, my husband was instructed to work from home indefinitely. Our daughter, then four, and my stepdaughter, who was eleven, began their journey in online education, allowing us to experience school from both the student and teacher perspectives.
We thought this situation wouldn’t last too long, but we soon found ourselves in a year of relative isolation. Major celebrations like Easter, Memorial Day, and Fourth of July were spent apart from family. Our summer was limited to local outings, and after a panic attack at a near-empty mini-golf course, our vacation options dwindled. We eventually chose Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio, a location with fewer COVID-related deaths compared to our hometown of Berks County, Pennsylvania, where case numbers were alarmingly high.
By the time Thanksgiving arrived—another holiday celebrated in isolation—daily COVID cases in our area were averaging between 225-250 new positives. As summer faded, our social interactions were reduced to a few cautious friends and family.
We’re grateful that our girls have access to schools offering a choice between full virtual and hybrid models. As a ninth-grade English teacher, I’ve also been completely virtual since August. Many are urging for kids to return to in-person learning, and while I understand this perspective, it’s not that straightforward. The mental health impacts on children have been alarming, with rising anxiety and depression rates, and younger youth suicides.
My husband and I are conscientious about our children’s well-being. Our twelve-year-old stepdaughter participates in horseback riding lessons with safety measures in place and has even taken a lead role in her school’s virtual drama production. When asked about returning to in-person school, she feels it would disrupt her current comfort zone.
On the other hand, our five-year-old would leap at the chance to ride the school bus, but we have concerns. As one of the youngest in her class, it’s a tall order to expect her teacher to maintain mask compliance in a room full of energetic five- and six-year-olds. As expressed by the superintendent in a school board meeting, the experience will be far from the traditional kindergarten atmosphere. Classrooms, once vibrant spaces for creativity, now have taped-off areas for children to sit and play with sanitized toys. Tables are spaced apart, and recess is limited to observing equipment without touching it.
Even more frustrating, our daughter will miss an entire week of instruction because we opted for full virtual learning while others transition back to the classroom. The kindergarten teachers will have less time to dedicate to the engaging teaching methods our daughter has come to love. With kindergarten not being mandatory in Pennsylvania, we find ourselves with limited influence over these decisions.
This is not the vision we want our daughter to have of education. However, now that my husband and I are vaccinated, we decided to enroll her in a gymnastics class she’s been eager to join.
Some may question our decision, but we weighed the risks against the benefits. The gym follows strict COVID protocols, including mask-wearing, equipment sanitization, and limited parent attendance. The potential risk of exposure is minimal compared to the significant advantages of social interaction she would gain through gymnastics while remaining in virtual schooling.
Her first class was impressive, and it’s important to note that we are not abandoning caution just because we’re vaccinated. We still prioritize safety by following protocols and only inviting vaccinated individuals into our home. We will continue to have open conversations with our children about their comfort levels.
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Summary:
Our decision to enroll our five-year-old in gymnastics while maintaining her in virtual school stems from a desire for balanced social interaction and educational stability during uncertain times. With safety protocols in place at the gym and our family’s commitment to cautious living, we believe this compromise is beneficial for her overall development.