April Letters to the Editor
Photo: Devanath
Re: “This Video Conferencing Thing Is Just Not Working” and "Extended Screen Time Is Wearing Students Down”
To the Editor:
I for one have mixed emotions about remote learning. At first I enjoyed the fact that I was at home more often, but now I feel like I'm home too often. Being in a classroom kind of excites me now. That seems unusual to say, but that’s the reality we face right now.
Usually parents scold their children for being in front of a computer, phone, or tablet all day. But now we're being scolded if we're not on it doing our work. I’ve had so many headaches from sitting in front of a laptop every day. I totally agree about the eye strain and posture discomfort.
In school it was easier for me to be more social because I didn't have a choice; I was constantly around people every second of the day. But now it's been harder for me to talk to people outside because it's been a while since I communicated with someone in person. Before Covid, I didn't really have social anxiety, but now I think I do. I’d also rather be in person, face-to-face, to learn, because I am a visual learner. Online school has been rough on me and my grades.
— Carly Emilcar ‘23
To the Editor:
With the pandemic, it has become impossible to escape the online world and take a break from it all. I am on a screen from 8 a.m. - 1 a.m. every day with only about an hour break in between for eating and showering. There have been times where my vision goes blurry while I'm doing my homework. There have also been times that I miss meals because I'm too busy doing work and need to meet a deadline.
It hasn't been easy on anyone, but the best thing that we can do for ourselves is to take breaks when we can, even if it may be hard. Stepping away from the screen and clearing your mind is vital. Both students and teachers need to be able to make time for themselves. It's okay to be selfish sometimes, especially if you feel your mental health is deteriorating.
— Eva Li '23
To the Editor:
My friends and I are so incredibly stressed and tired from all the work teachers give us. We have to join meets and complete classwork, and on top of that we have to do homework that keeps us up late at night. I noticed my eyes started twitching because I was staring at my computer screen all day long. I have to drink medicine to stop my head from hurting certain days. We are given so much work, and all that work eventually piles up in the missing category, and we are not motivated to do anything from there. We don't go to school, so we don't feel scared about teachers telling us in person to do our missing work. Now it's up to us to move forward and motivate ourselves.
Lately my grades have been dropping because all I want to do is lay in bed and listen to music. I used to ask my friends for help but now I have no one to ask for help except the teachers. Our parents get mad at us for getting bad grades even though we try and try. It's exhausting and draining doing the same routine every day.
Yes, teachers have it hard, too. They have to grade tests, classwork, quizzes, and homework all on the computer. They get hate from students because we blame them for giving us so much work and putting us through misery. But it's life, and it’s their job. We need to start communicating with each other, not caring if people are going to judge us when we turn on our cameras.
— Lizi Bunturi ‘23
To the Editor:
Personally, I believe that video conferencing isn’t all bad. I’m typically an introvert, so while some people might prefer direct social contact, I’m not one of those people. In fact, I’ve had a boost of confidence since we switched to remote learning. Since my teachers and classmates haven’t seen me in person, me being a freshman and all, if I end up embarrassing myself in my virtual class meetings, they won’t be able to put a face to it. Overall, video conferencing is draining, but it helps decrease some of my social anxiety since it allows me to speak up for once without the fear of embarrassment.
— Diana Chen ‘24
To the Editor:
I think it would be a good idea to have some sort of official "catch up" day. Wednesday seems like it could work since it is in the middle of the week, so it would allow us to do the work we have been assigned and possibly even get ahead. Or there could be a rule where no new work can be assigned on Friday, so we could take Saturday and Sunday to catch up and also have some time to take care of ourselves and get the rest that we tend to lack on the weekdays.
— Mireyda Gonzalez '23
To the Editor:
The amount of time students are being forced to spend with their eyes glued to a screen is unquestionably unhealthy. Before remote learning, we were always taught how screens would “rot our brains” or how being on a screen too close to bedtime would cause unhealthy sleep patterns and eye damage. These are still truths. We need to recharge, stand up, walk around, even socialize.
Holding classes 3-4 days per week would reduce our screen time and leave time for questions and clarification, especially since most lessons take place on outside systems like Peardeck, Nearpod, Delta Math, or even just Google Slides. This would allow for students to work at their own pace throughout the day and create a more healthy structure, or at least one that suits them.
— Sacha Keenan ‘23
To the Editor:
At the end of ninth period, I feel relieved when I am finally able to turn away from the same screen I stared at for the past eight hours. But the break is short-lived as I find myself drowning in a pile of assignments. I believe that many people at Midwood have overlooked the requests of students to give us less live instruction time. It is pointless when more than half the class has spaced out.
If students were given fewer assignments and more time to work on them, more attention would be paid in class and less late work would be submitted. It is important to acknowledge not only the education we have lost through this pandemic, but also the social and mental time we have lost. The line between home and school has been smudged, and the DOE needs to devote more time to giving students their home and social time back instead of figuring out how to create cheat-proof tests and pile on additional assignments.
— Wilhelmina Morehead ‘23
To the Editor:
I feel a bit better knowing that I am not alone and that other students are going through the same thing I am. At first I used to spend a lot of time staying up late to catch up on assignments and losing sleep because of that. I found myself losing motivation and taking more naps than usual. It was a difficult time for me.
However, once I recognized that this routine wasn’t healthy, I decided to change it. It’s been two months since I decided to meditate and be more organized. I worked on my time management skills and stopped procrastinating. I even have time now to do the things I like such as reading, watching TV, and painting without having to stress about completing my assignments.
— Estefania Aguilar ‘23
Re: "Monuments for George Washington and Thomas Jefferson Don't Commemorate Heroes"
To the Editor:
Whether historical figures should be remembered for good or bad has been up for debate for a long time. But it really all depends from what perspective you look at it. In the case of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, it is true that they were slave owners. But to judge them solely based on that fact ignores the historical context of the time. We should also remember that Washington helped the revolutionary army achieve victory against the British and laid the standard as to what a president should do. Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, and in an early draft, he denounced slavery and the slave trade. Both helped create a nation that is willing to change over time.
The bottom line is, we shouldn't only glorify or bash historical figures. People should be taught the good and the bad and decide for themselves what to make of it. As for statues, we should look at them the same way we do an art collage: always keep in mind the bigger picture.
— Emilio Larios '23
Re: " Wrestling and Football Teams Tackle Canceled Seasons, Uncertain Future"
To the Editor:
Midwood athletes are tired of staying inside or going outside facing the same people. We need and want competition. After New York stated that all sports were on hold, our motivation and excitement hasn't been the same. Seniors were dreaming about playing their last games and going out there and representing Midwood. But after this outbreak, their dreams were gone in a snap of a finger.
I don't want that to happen to upcoming senior athletes. I do believe mental strength is more important than physical strength, but we still need to be physically healthy to stay strong and fit. Most of the states in the U.S. have already started playing sports like basketball, football, and soccer. New York has to allow high school athletes to go back to their training and sports because at some point, they will give up if they don't have encouragement and excitement within themselves.
— Sohibjon Vakhobov ‘23