What parents, students are saying about remote learning

As a new school begins, not all students have returned to campus for a fresh year. Some Breckenridge parents/guardians were tasked with a major decision of sending their children back to school or allowing their children to participate in vremote learning.

The Breckenridge American highlights four students who live in the same household and are participating in remote learning. Three scholars attend Breckenridge Independent School District and are spotlighted for their first day of school, and one student attends Mansfield ISD.

“My mom wanted us to do remote learning, but left it up to me because it’s my grades,” Jaylen Harper, a junior at Breckenridge High School said. “We agreed it was best to do remote learning to see what happens during these six weeks for the safety of my family. I seriously want to do in-class learning, but wanted to protect my family members first.”

The Breckenridge Independent School District has a total enrollment estimated at 1,449 students for the 2020-2021 school year, but for remote learners, the district has an estimated at 113.

The total amount of remote learners is divided by all the schools inside the district, with 31 remote learners at East Elementary, 36 learners at South Elementary, 18 learners at Breckenridge Junior High, and 38 learners at Breckenridge High School.

“I woke up at 7:30 a.m. and grabbed breakfast,” Harper said. “I started checking my emails at about 7:45 a.m., and was supposed to begin my English course at 8:10, but nothing was available to use.”

The student was unable to access course materials until later that afternoon and has experienced no problems since.

Breckenridge ISD is using Google classroom for remote learners and is working through the kinks to assist students during the pandemic. Mansfield ISD is using Microsoft classroom and began school on Wednesday, August 12. The school district has had more time to navigate through the hurdle of remote learning.

“The district decided to do online school for everyone until Wednesday, September 9,” Jackson Perry, a freshman at Mansfield ISD said. “We can choose remote or inclass learning after that, and I’m probably going to choose remote learning. Although remote learning is okay, it’s not better than in-class learning. There are a lot of students at MISD high school and if one has the coronavirus then a ton of people will get it.”

Breckenridge Junior High also started the semester on Wednesday, August 19, and is allowing students to participate in remote learning.

“So far, we are just reading the syllabus and answering questions about ourselves,” Malachi Harper, an eighth-grader at BJHS said. “I prefer remote learning for right now, I don’t think it’s easier, just more peaceful.”

While some students may find peace in remote learning, others may be worried about missing out on UIL activities while participating in remote learning.

“I prefer in-class learning,” Chicago Harper, a sophomore at BHS said. “Being around friends and being able to workout during athletics is something I’ll miss.”

While BISD doesn’t allow remote learners to participate in extracurricular activities, both Harper high school students will miss out on cross country for the Fall season. Both are looking forward to the spring semester and participating in track season.

While both Google and Microsoft classrooms allow scholars to live chat with teachers to ask questions concerning the coursework, remote learning allows parents to protect their kids during the pandemic.

“My mother lives next door and doesn’t feel great at all times,” Rachelle Perry, the mother of the Harper’s said. “My daughter was in the intensive care unit when she was little with breathing issues, so we’re just trying to protect each other. We feel it’s the best thing to do to protect ourselves and the community. Four kids and me on the wifi at the same time is insane, so this is not the easiest choice, I just felt it was the safest.”

BISD policy makes students participate in remote learning for a minimum of six weeks before making a change back to in-class learning.

The Breckenridge American will monitor the relationship students have with remote learning over the first six weeks of the semester. Body text