A Look Around the World: How Countries are Dealing with Online School By: Kelly Groome

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  State-ordered in-person instruction available part-time or full-time*

  State ordered closure in effect (including states where openings are delayed)

  State-ordered regional closure in effect

  Varies by school/district/dependent on local health authorities

• (Map found on Edweek.org showing where schools are opening in the US)

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        During this time of quarantine and online school, many people are experiencing different thoughts and feelings. The Corona Virus has swept around the world, altering the way we live. Around the world, countries are beginning to open school while some remain virtual. Many people are debating whether opening schools to educate children is worth the risk of infecting more and more people. 

Where Have Schools Been Opening?

According to the New York Times in Wuhan, China where the outbreak first began, ¨More then 2,480 primary and secondary schools," opened on August 27th. Students in Britain and Belgium have also returned to school following guidelines such as taking temperatures, wearing masks, and using proper handwashing techniques and hand sanitizer. According to the New York Times, ¨More then 12 million students in France," have also returned to school where there is a mask requirement. Schools in Germany have also for the new school year some even opening in May according to Business Insider. Around the US many schools are opening either hybrid, online, or all in school. Some schools such as Sparta have been sending the younger kids back first because they are learning their basic skills reading and writing. 

Opening schools is definitely something that is very important in order to help further education. Online school presents many challenges and doesn't offer the same learning experience that in person does. Children are having a hard time focusing and learning well in their home environment. I am finding it very difficult to listen to my google meets when my wifi is not working or my dog is barking. However, school districts are deciding what is best in order to keep everyone safe and stop the spread of the pandemic. With cases so high in the US for the time being it may be safer for schools to resort to an online or hybrid system. I understand for places such as Greece that currently have 17, 288 cases that they are returning to school following guidelines, however for the US which has 7.06 million cases it is questionable whether we should be returning just yet. I am hoping that in the next month or so we will be back in school and eventually things will go back to normal in the future.