School TV
California schools rightfully are very cautious to resume in-person classes. My daughter’s high school informed us school will start up again from her bedroom.
The administration has accepted the unanimous recommendation of the COVID-19 Task Force and has determined that the school will open in August in distance learning mode exclusively, with all classes taught remotely.
My son’s university offered an online option as well. I am glad he is not going to the campus in Los Angeles this fall. Many of his friends also opted for the study from home option.
It was good to hear on NPR’s Up First that the Los Angeles School district and teacher’s unions are on-board with online classes. Safety first.
This brings of course the problem that many poorer students do not have access to a computer at home. It may be very difficult for them to take classes from home.
But is that really a problem, or have we not considered all options?
First of all, many people, of all levels in society seem to have access to a smartphone. Hey Google, let’s put out a K-12 Youtube curriculum. Hey Quibi, this may be pivot you have been waiting for: record classes in phone format and offer them for free. Upsell the evening entertainment.
It is true that even if there is a smartphone in the home, it is difficult to share among all kids, or you may not have an unlimited data plan.
Thus, we need a second offering. Let’s put those Youtube curricula on regular over-the-air TV. Let’s repurpose public television to broadcast various grades of K-12 classes.
I grew up on some horrendous school television from the Belgian Radio and Television (BRT). Here’s an example about the Belgian Train System. Even sex education was available via school TV.
We don’t need to wait for Elon Musk’s Starlink for easy internet in remote locations. Let’s just go back old school and tune into channel 9 for today’s class from Ms Gonzales on the difference between ser and estar.