This Podcast Will Kill You, COVID-19, Chapter 10: Schools

This Podcast Will Kill You, COVID-19, Chapter 10:Schools Catherine Rita (bio) A recent podcast, hosted by Drs. Erin Welsh and Allman Updyke, examines the impacts of COVID-19 on students schools in United States. The hosts series, are disease ecologists epidemiologists who typically focus their podcasts biology history various diseases. For this COVID 19, 10: Schools, they focused how learning has taken place during pandemic what future holds for public school system In response to rapid changes that occurred pandemic, a podcast offers an easily accessible medium through which communicate about relevant issues, such as COVID-19. reveal had received first-hand accounts from listeners wished share experiences difficulties faced pandemic. then selected three contributions at start podcast. Vanessa, 7th-grade language teacher middle outside Seattle; Natalia, 16-year-old high student; second-year science regional Victoria, Australia (teacher's name not disclosed). Each speaker provides or student inclusion real-life is fantastic way offer opportunity hear perspectives range people have experienced disruption lives Natalia's reflection special interest, invited her fears anxieties while with closures 2020. more children youth would been welcome, there limited opportunities voices. After contributors, introduce two guest speakers discuss schools. guests Dr. Jack Schneider, Assistant Professor Education University Massachusetts, Jennifer Berkshire, writer education issues. follows interview format where ask questions. questions centered comparisons historical previous pandemics, defining role schools, trajectory reopening During interviews, ways activism prior was working towards narrowing gap between wealthy poor districts States; [End Page 220] however, put risk. Schneider reveals efforts make system, moving kids physical classrooms online formats increasing class sizes, both help reduce cost running interview, propose exposed possibilities costs learning. consideration points made important question looms interview: At these made? answer throughout highlights students, academically socially, being away school. conclude offering overview findings interviews. They recognize importance closing stop spread further suggest highlighted negative having social welfare program offered States contrast other areas world do programs. Specifically, inequities found become pronounced closures, support disadvantaged reduced significantly. Furthermore, report teachers felt increased pressure somehow replacing loss of...