Teen Speak — The debate over online vs. in-person classes

CONCORD, CA — Since August, many parents, teachers and students had been asking the Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) board to release an in-person class instruction model.

The board finally released a plan on March 16 that described a hybrid-learning model where students choosing to participate in person would be assigned one of two groups. Each group would attend school two days a week for a two-hour period.

Northgate High School shortened instruction time to accommodate the in-person period.

Less than a third of students have returned to in-person learning, so some question the purpose of the new schedule and whether shortening class instruction time will impact academic success.

In-person cohorts

MDUSD board member Cherise Khaund said the primary purpose of in-person cohorts was “to provide social-emotional support and to provide academic support that online learning was not conducive to.”

However, many teachers find them less valuable than hoped.

“I think the developers felt it would be an opportunity to support students who were struggling, but there were no clear objectives for what it would do for students who were not,” said Northgate physics teacher Kipp Penovich.

“The shortened classes have been a difficult switch for most teachers,” said English teacher Mary Eisner. “We were able to accomplish more in the longer classes than we can now.”

Principal Kelly Cooper says while “the in-person groups seem to be really happy,” these periods are “supplemental.”

“Our teachers are careful not to offer new instruction that at-home students would miss,” Cooper said, adding that teachers “reinforce topics with their work during this time.”

Student experience

Student experiences have varied, but Zoe Moss and Chloe Mannion said the new model has been great for them.

“I mostly spend my time getting one-on-one help from Mr. Wood. He has been a great help for me and for the rest of the kids in the cohort with me,” said Moss.

Mannion noted that her AP European history cohort has been “incredibly helpful” with AP exam prep. “I am definitely glad I have the opportunity to be in person.”

However, Northgate senior Natasha Lee disagrees with the shortened class instruction time and decided to return to fully distanced learning.

“In-class studying time is more beneficial than self-studying time, because it’s incredibly hard for the average student to focus alone,” she said.

Frustration

Many in the Northgate administration are frustrated by the lack of teacher involvement in the planning.

“The model was developed primarily with younger students in mind, and it simply doesn’t translate to the high school environment,” Eisner said. “District leadership (should) acknowledge this critical difference when defining any districtwide program, then plan accordingly.”

Khaund said the district negotiated an agreement with the Mt. Diablo Education Association, the teachers’ union. “The district also heard input from parents and community throughout the year,” she added.

According to Cooper, the Northgate administration “had no say in the model or schedule.”

“As a staff, we worked hard within the framework to make the period as meaningful as possible,” Cooper said.

English teacher Kari Reed says the district needs to ask teachers what will work best. “Don’t make decisions based on money or on the entire district.”

Natalie Pursche is a Senior at Northgate High School. She loves to write and looks forward to studying journalism at the University of Kansas this fall.