Have you ever taken a class online? Many students were forced online during Covid-19 when many of us were in elementary or middle school.  

Do you prefer going to school in person? I would rather be going in person. When I took online school, I’d get bad grades because the teacher wasn’t getting the work I submitted or I didn’t understand the work I had submitted online. 

 The people that don’t like online school 

I am not the only one who doesn’t like taking online classes. Ms. Susie Utrera, who teaches Intensive Reading, said that online school was difficult because she had to transfer all her lessons that she would do in class, face to face, to online. She also had to reinvent ways to keep the students engaged and able to learn the benchmark that she was trying to teach.  

Tramaine Wallace, an 11th grader, said he hated taking online school because it was boring, and “I really didn’t understand the online work they were giving out to us.” 

Liyah Panita, a 10th grader, said it was also boring and you could get away with so many things like sleeping or playing games. Some of the things that she should have learned, she didn’t really learn too well. 

Ms. Eron, an AP English teacher, said it was very stressful because she had to do like a hybrid method where she had some kids in class and some kids at home, so her attention is in the corner of her eye, but also on the screen where kids were taking her class online. 

Better than going in person? 

Ms. Susie Utrera said being in person is so much better than teaching online because there’s nothing like face-to-face interaction. “Questions, working with teachers one on one, listening to your classmates or looking at what they’re doing, face-to-face is the way to go,” she said. 

Tramaine Wallace said going in person is better because in person you get the experience of public school and how to work with other people in all different types of stuff. 

Ms. Eron prefers to teach traditionally because of the interaction with people. Also, she doesn’t like staring at someone who she can’t see face-to-face. 

On the other hand, Liyah Panita said it depends on the subject. For example, let’s say she can’t make it somewhere on time because she is going on a trip or something. She can still do it online from anywhere. 

 The Differences  

    Ms. Susie Utrera said going to traditional school gives students accountability to make sure that they really pay attention. The teacher can see that they’re not on their phone, not watching Netflix. They’re being held accountable because they’re in front of you. But with online school the students can pretend they’re watching you, but the whole time they are watching TV or playing games. 

Liyah Panita said it’s a huge difference, because traditional schools have a lot more things than online. She doesn’t think anybody should do online school completely. “It doesn’t help you develop social skills at all,” she said. 

Tramaine Wallace said if you are just online, you can go to sleep or do whatever you want without them knowing. In person you must wake up and get ready for school, make friends, and go to class. 

Ms. Eron said she thinks it’s fun to interact with people, but at home it feels like you are in a little box and don’t feel connecte.  “Going in person,” she said, “you feel more connected at school.”