Impacts Of The COVID-19 Pandemic on Education

There is no region or part of the globe that has not been affected by Covid-19, or one of the variants. Even now, in December 2021, Coronavirus is still raging around the world, and we will still be dealing with the economic, social, societal, and personal implications of this disease. Across the United States, K through 12 schools and universities, businesses, public buildings, and entertainment venues have closed, reopened, and may close again. The shutdowns affected nearly 250 million Americans. The only businesses that were allowed to operate during the initial lockdowns were essential businesses like government services, hospitals, stores that sold food, including grocery stores, distribution centers, and utilities, among other places.

 How has your family been affected by lockdowns?

Infographic: Omicron jumps to dominance within weeks of its emergence.

A major survey conducted by the Pew Research Center poll found that 90% of Americans were affected in a major way due to the Coronavirus and the lockdowns. According to regulations; so many businesses were not essential, they had to close or reduce their operations. In less than two weeks, millions of people lost their jobs. Unemployment applications skyrocketed, and many had to redo their application to redefine themselves for an online environment.

Many are suffering, can we bounce back?

Only time will tell if we bounce back, many are saying that we are unsure of the lasting effects of trauma. Also, unfortunately, many people who were already suffering from domestic found that their abuse escalated. Those planning on leaving their abusive partners now had to wait and stay in this situation because they lost their job, or their hours were reduced (Nikos Rose, 2021). The mental health of the average American dropped significantly. Since lockdown orders advised people against gathering with their family and friends who did not live with them, they could not socialize in local spaces only in an online environment which is not the same. Families had to stay together 24/7. Children at home had to do Zoom online school. Everyone in the world had to adopt a new daily routine, and this also bought on more stress.

 How are your recovering and sustaining relationships?

Many people pulled out their to-do lists and checked items off one by one to fill the void. They clean, start new hobbies, read books, play video games, and watch old shows that they couldn't watch before. Every day essentially became Saturday, and people quickly forgot what day of the week it was. K-12 schooling took a hard hit during the pandemic, and many students fell behind because schools didn't have enough time, resources, or training to provide the right support to students. Teachers were stressed then and still now.

Are your principals, teachers, and students okay? Well, No…

This pandemic has taken a toll on every person in education, principals are stressed trying to find immediate solutions to teacher attrition, Covid19 cases, and the mental health of their team. Teachers are overwhelmed trying to sustain a broken system riddled with low wages, burnout, lack of training, and lack of support for their own trauma. Last, students are suffering due though it all with school inequities, family trauma, disinformation clutter. Also, students reported that they missed their friends and felt extremely sad or dissatisfied because they could no longer go to school (2020). Online schools have slightly improved but there is still a broadband and device shortage. While some districts have re-opened, many districts struggle to provide consistent education to students leaving a wider academic gap. I worry for this next generation and their learning loss. This is the time to redefine education, scaffolding and mental health will be our focus for the year. May the 2022 year bring new opportunity and hope for redefining school, mental health embedded service, and a shift in the value $$$ system for our teachers.

References

 Nikos-Rose, K. M. (2021, November 10). Covid-19 isolation linked to increased domestic violence, researchers suggest. UC Davis. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/covid-19-isolation-linked-increased-domestic-violence-researchers-suggest.

 Richards, E. (2020, December 17). Students are falling behind in online school. Where's the covid-19 'disaster plan' to catch them up? USA Today. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/education/2020/12/13/covid-online-school-tutoring-plan/6334907002/.

 Richter, F. (2021, December 21). Infographic: Omicron jumps to dominance within weeks of its emergence. Statista Infographics. Retrieved December 23, 2021, from https://www.statista.com/chart/26437/covid-19-variants-in-the-us/