Social Distancing: High School vs. Elementary

by Alyse Bailey

The ability to social distance is very limited in schools due to spacing issues. Elementary schools have a smaller space than the high schools, and although they have fewer students, it is just as difficult to distance them as it is high school students. Considering blended learning, you would assume the schools are bare and almost empty, but in reality, the schools are still jammed with students.

Many teachers and parents have mixed opinions on students being back in school with blended learning. Some people think that school should be “back to normal”, with all students present on the same day, while others feel the blended learning schedule is great for students. Other people think students shouldn’t be attending school at all.

Jaime Moss, teacher at Parkersburg South High School, says that her “personal belief is that under the current guidelines we are forced to stay on blended learning until the guidelines change or we get very creative to feed our students safely.” Blended learning gives teachers a way to get to know each student better. Jaime also says that she “think[s] that the smaller

classes allow me to spend more time face-to-face with my students even on only two days. I think it goes to the quality of the two days rather than the quantity of the five days.” Many teachers relate that the quality of teaching is better than the quantity of teaching.

Amy Bailey from Lubeck says, “The smaller class sizes allow teachers to give more

individualized attention to their students. Especially at the elementary level, if a student isn’t particularly struggling with a concept, they may be used to not getting as much attention from

their teacher as their peers who need extra instruction. The smaller class size allows more students to feel a lesson particularly geared towards their needs. Those students who don’t

get as much attention in a fuller class are liking the smaller groups.” Jaime Moss also pointed out that students being partially online is a good way to prep for college. “I think that blended

learning is difficult because it is different, but actually it is very similar to how college classes work and by doing things this way, we are laying the groundwork for our students to enter the next stage of their careers more prepared.”

Social distancing is almost impossible at lunch in the high schools. The staff, however, does the best job they can to ensure the students’ safety. Students may only sit on one side of the lunch table and are required to wear their masks when they finish eating. Students also have the option to sit in the auditorium with their masks on once they’ve eaten. The number of students makes it difficult for them to have room to be six feet apart in the lunchroom. However, at lunch in the elementary schools, they have the ability to distance students. Amy Bailey, teacher at Lubeck Elementary School says, “We’ve removed the tables in the cafeteria and replaced them with desks that are six feet apart. They wear their masks in, then hang them on a hook on the side of the desk while they eat. After they’re done eating, they put their masks back on and clean their desks. We have desks set up in the gym for lunch as-well, since the cafeteria and gym are open/connected.”

Although classrooms are only half the size they should be due to blended learning, students can still be in close quarters. Not all classrooms are large enough for a 6ft distance between each child. In the high school, when possible, the students sit 6 feet apart. Masks are required at all times at Parkersburg South, except when the students are eating lunch. Most students are very cooperative with wearing their masks properly. Jaime Moss, teacher at Parkersburg South high school says , “I believe that students are doing wonderful and much better than I anticipated wearing their masks not only in class, but in the hallways and throughout the campus. No one likes to do it and it makes me very proud that we as a school can follow the guidelines to make our campus safer for everyone.” The same mask rules at Parkersburg South also apply to Lubeck.

Amy Bailey proudly states that her “kids have surprised me with how cooperative they are with wearing their masks. Students wear their masks most of the day with no complaints.”

Students of all ages are thankful to have a part of their life back to semi-normal, so they will take what they can get, even if that means wearing a mask 24/7 and not getting to sit by your friends in class or lunch. All students of Wood County are lucky to have teachers and administrators that care for their safety and do all they can to keep them healthy.