Abruptly shifting much of the U.S. education system online in the middle of a pandemic was never going to be easy. But for students of color at some of the country’s largest school districts, the practical, technical, and emotional challenges are far more acute. Their lack of reliable internet access and technology is only the tip of the iceberg.
Students told Teen Vogue they’re growing anxious as relatives are laid off and bills mount. Mixed-status families are being left out of relief packages. Children of essential workers are taking on responsibilities at home that prevent them from engaging in online classes. All of the historic inequities in education access that students of color already faced are compounded by a pandemic that is particularly devastating for black and Latinx communities.
UC Berkeley education professor Tolani Britton said the use of distance learning assumes a lot about students’ access to computers, reliable internet connection, space to work at home and parents’ ability to help students with work.
“If we zoom out a little bit, there’s a hierarchy of needs. If the students don’t have a stable home, or if they don’t have enough adequate nutrition on a daily basis, then in many ways education is secondary at that point.”
To read more of Nidia Baustista's article, please click here.
Comments (0)