Article courtesy of The Marin Independent Journal, May 25, 2020
For years, we have asked the students in our schools to speak up. We want to give the very sincere message that we, the adults, want to hear their thoughts and ideas.
The recent discussion amid the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown around grading and now graduation ceremonies for San Rafael City Schools brought out many of those opinions. As trustee on the school board, I want to thank the students who started the petitions, the hundreds of students who signed and, most importantly, those who had the courage to include their heartfelt, and sometimes painful, comments. The students’ comments are the voice of our community.
Across Marin County, we have seen our school districts addressing the same issue about how to recognize the needs of our students, keep them engaged with learning and, at the same time, hold them harmless.
After a lot of research and listening, the school board decided to give the students a choice of grades or pass/not pass. Now I hope the students and parents are able to move forward. I hope the students don’t agonize about what to do and can focus on ending the school year.
A director at Education Trust-West, a nonprofit for educational justice and the high academic achievement of all California students, said it best when expressing the sentiment. The focus now needs to turn toward how to reduce the slide in student learning and provide resources to students who are the most in need now, through the summer and for the next school year.
With every school district in the country and the world approaching success of their students differently, colleges and universities have recently indicated that they will use a range of evaluation criteria based on the last quarter and information provided by the school. During this very difficult time, the parents, adults, school administrators, teachers and counselors at the local and college levels have the best interest of the students at heart.
As we move forward, our attention needs to shift to planning a successful, but most likely very different, return to the classroom. We will need to show support and patience for everyone as we work with health professionals, teachers, staff, administrators and students to make this work.
What is more important right now is how you get through this time. I know that some of you have other priorities. You are in line at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank giveaway, or you are the only one in your family who reads or writes English. Maybe you are the only one in your family who reads and writes in your first language. I know some of you now work at grocery stores because your parents lost their jobs.
Yet still, I’ve seen you being the only student who shows up in your online class. I’ve seen you trying to do homework outside your house because there are just too many people inside. I’ve seen your resilience and determination.
Find a good book to read or something that makes you happy. Take a deep breath and take a walk (with a mask.) Plant some vegetables. Get lost for a few minutes in a different world. That is the most important thing you can do right now.
Please know that this time is not a normal or OK time for any of us. It is a scary and stressful time. If you stay focused and on track and do your best — if you continue showing the voice you showed in your comments on the petitions — you will graduate from high school and continue to carve out your path for the future.
