MD Back To School Plans Stress Kids, Parents: Survey

MARYLAND — Most Maryland parents and students want the 2020-21 school year to be held in person, with virtual classes causing stress to parents juggling work, technology need and extra expenses, a Patch survey finds.

In a time of uncertainty thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, teachers, parents and students prepared to start a school year unlike any other. Districts across Maryland were faced with agonizing decisions: Should classes be held in person or remotely? How to best handle the new required safety and sanitization practices? What about sports?

Patch posted a survey Tuesday asking readers how are things going in their district, and how parents and students feel about the new policies and procedures. Ninety-one percent of the respondents said their school system is starting the year with remote learning only, 7.2 percent have a mix of remote and online classes, and 1.9 percent have in-person classes only.

"It has caused stress to the highest level since we do not have adequate internet and no one has answers or solutions to simply questions," one parent wrote in response to the survey. "We feel powerless in our situation as many do."

The survey is not meant to be a scientific poll, with random sampling and margins of error, but is meant only to gauge the sentiments of our readers in an informal way.

"I have a (third-grader), a kindergartener and a 2-year-old at home and we survived the switch to virtual at the beginning of the pandemic as luckily I could work from home. But I can't work and teach two kids with a toddler, too," said a woman whose husband is a police officer. "If day care centers can be open why can't schools? Overall, I worry more about my children's development and mental health right now more than health as you can do things safely. Masks worn, smaller classes, washing hand breaks, limiting exposure to other kids (no cafeteria)."

Eight of the state's largest districts are having classes online only and will re-evaluate in January, if not sooner. That disappointed Gov. Larry Hogan, who wants some in-person instruction built in to school reopening plans and offered financial incentives for districts that bring students back into classrooms at least part of the time.

Of the parents who were able to choose what type of learning their child is part of this fall, 54 percent said they selected in-person learning, while 46 percent opted for virtual classes.

Maryland parents who weren't given a choice overwhelmingly prefer in-person learning, 61.3 percent to 38.7 percent for remote schooling, the survey showed.

Some commenters called online only a waste of a school year.

"Someone needs to be home every school day with our child. Her learning has suffered and so has her social interactions," wrote a respondent.

"Have to create areas for children to have their online school session," said another parent. "Had to spend money for desks to make space as there is more than 1 child in my house."

School started Aug. 31 in Baltimore City and Montgomery and Prince George's counties. It will begin Sept. 1 in Cecil County. The first day of school will be Sept. 8 for those in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties.

Related: Maryland Schools May Begin Safely Reopening: Governor Hogan

Several parents said they are now spending $800 to $1,000 a month on child care because they can't stay home with their kids during what would normally be school hours.

"It has confined all at home, restricting working parents, and worsened the socioeconomic disparity with those less fortune in serious deficit of trying to afford laptops for each child and sufficiently high internet speed for all children at once," said a respondent.

Concerns about the spread of the coronavirus at school were roughly even among those with little fear according to 40 percent of the survey respondents and 40 percent of parents being greatly concerned.

"Despite the inconveniences and less-than-exciting online learning, we feel that safety to the whole community is at stake and thus is the right decision at this time," a parent wrote. "If a hybrid model enabled *very* small in-school classes with strict protocols for 1 or 2 days/week, we might be supportive."

"Putting my child at risk and putting me at risk and putting everyone who’s vulnerable at risk, and putting everyone who we don’t even know is vulnerable at risk is unacceptable," said a parent who urged everyone to stay at home to stop the spread of the virus. "It is not OK to put people at risk before there is a vaccination or an effective treatment."

Many school districts have either canceled or delayed fall sports. Some of the parents surveyed said that has left their student-athletes frustrated, depressed and angry.

"My 14-year-old grandson is devastated that his years of soccer practice and summer training camps are of no use to him now, as he enters his first year of senior high school," a respondent wrote. "Schools could safely allow field games and practice sessions, maintaining reasonable distance. Even though people wouldn't be witnessing their games, being able to keep their skills intact and the other benefits of sports interaction is so important to their growth and development."

"All cheer and football cancelled and my kids are devastated," said a parent.

"My child is very disappointed that she will not have a soccer program at her school," added another. "Luckily there was a league who put something together for the soccer players so she is doing that instead. It still is not the same as playing for her school though."