826LA convened a Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday night, in which experts from the educational community discussed the challenges and opportunities posed by remote learning. Equity was the unifying theme of the data, anecdotes, and ideas that panelists presented. (Go here for a video of the full event.)
“The public health crisis of systemic and institutional racism is showing in who has access to technology,” said Ryan Smith, Chief External Officer of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools.
He shared sobering findings from the research the Partnership has done in collaboration with USC. Among the more than 1,100 families surveyed in the Partnership’s network:
- 77% had experienced a loss of income since the start of the pandemic
- 72% had experienced food insecurity
- 28% had experienced housing insecurity
- 42% rely on siblings to help younger children with homework
- 75% of parents/guardians do not use computers on a regular basis
Clockwise from top left: moderator Elise Hu, Dr. Erica Thomas-Minor, Rocío López, and Ryan Smith
Panelist Rocío López of Common Sense Latino shared her own group’s findings, as well as her experiences from working with immigrant and Spanish-speaking families. In addition to the challenges posed by technology, she said, many families in poor communities live in “really tight spaces,” López said. “They really relied on going to school to get their work done.”
It’s no wonder that 59% of the teens who responded to Common Sense Media’s survey said that remote learning is worse than in-person learning. However, as 41% of students apparently agree, it’s not all bad news.
Panelist Dr. Erica Thomas-Minor, principal of Manual Arts High School in South LA–where 826LA operates a Writers’ Room–said, “Effective teaching is still effective teaching. Standards-based instruction, student engagement, making sure that rigor is in the instructional program…. That transfers to this environment.”
Thomas-Minor also noted that the pandemic has pushed teachers to acquire “21st century skills.” “They had been using technology at a surface level,” she said. “One thing that will come out of this is that teachers will be more diligent using technology than ever before because now they know how.”
826LA Executive Director Joel Arquillos, Director of Programs and Operations Beatriz Garcia, and Volunteer Manager Mariesa Arrañaga Kubasek spoke about 826LA’s approach to supporting students during the virtual school year–work that has included distributing printed writing packets and art supplies; consolidating resources for families; and offering a variety of online programming that prioritizes social-emotional learning and creativity. Garcia cited a volunteer who connected with students in the Tutoring program by running an impromptu virtual scavenger hunt.
The audience wanted to know how to help. In addition to donating to 826LA, Common Sense Media, and the Partnership for LA Schools, the panelists encouraged people to support measures that distribute resources more equitably (Smith cited Prop. 15 and Prop. 16 specifically).
“If we’re going to close the gap,” Smith said, “we need to start with the schools that are the most in need…. We need to invest in the genius of our students.”