Roman Scott

Dr. Crowther

English Composition 1101

 

Covid 19: The American School System Pushed to the Limit

            The Covid 19 pandemic swept the globe in the early months of 2020. The world shut down immediately without having time to prepare. Schools, offices, and companies closed which left students and workers at home remotely fulling their duties. The Pandemic highlighted the best and the worst of both people and the systems in place. Mental Health was brought forward as a main concern, next to the worldwide pandemic. People were isolated. Facing obstacles without known solutions. The American School system was tested, pushed to the limit, nearly crumbling under the weight of the pandemic, along with the increasingly concerning mental health crisis and the growing digital divide. For almost two years, students and teachers had to carry on from their own homes.

Classes were held virtually and daily school work became homework. Some say this was a good thing, others point out the flaws and challenges faced during isolation. With the everchanging position of the pandemic daily routines were in constant adjustment, which had a tremendous impact on the lives of students and teachers. Mental health and the Digital Divide were issues that impacted many. Merriam-Webster defines The Digital Divide as “the economic, educational, and social inequalities between those who have computers and online access and those who do not”.

When schools shut down, there were hardly any systems set in place to handle any of the numerous complications that were brought onward due to the pandemic. The internet disparities as well as the growing mental health crisis being two of the largest areas of concern for schools. Responses for both were in desperate need. High school students were experiencing the highest amounts of mental health concerns ever recorded.