Auburn, N.Y. (NCC News)- As we enter the August, schools around the country are submitting their plans to re-open. In Auburn, Superintendent Jeff Pirozzolo submitted plans to have a hybrid model of learning in all district schools.
According to the Auburn City School District website, this hybrid model means that students will be in an ‘A/B’ rotation. Students will attend school in person two days out of the week, and distance learn three days of the week.
Pirozzolo believes that students should return to school at least part-time, because they need to interact with their peers and teachers.
“Children need to be in school, they need those connections. And they need to see their peers, they need to see their teachers,” Pirozzolo said. “So that’s an important part of everybody’s plan.”
He also said that the socialization of students is one of the biggest reasons why the district is trying so hard to bring students back to school.
“You know, when you talk about social and emotional, I think that’s one of the biggest pieces that we’re gonna be facing,” Pirozzolo said. “And you can see some school districts are focusing on their younger children.”
When you talk about focusing on younger children, Chrissy Saucier owns her own daycare center. She provides daycare for children as young as six months, and up to six years old.
Saucier shares the same concerns as Pirozzolo. That children in this generation will miss out on the key social and emotional skills that they learn in school, if school is online.
“I am so afraid for these children’s futures. I think this whole generation, is going to be like traumatized,” Saucier said. “Like PTSD from everything they have experienced, and moving forward.”
Saucier also said that even though she is a daycare provider, she can’t teach kids everything that they would learn in school.
“Because you have to think, your whole entire school career is about socialization,” Saucier said. “You’re interacting with your peers, and those relationships with your teachers are how you learn about authority.”
Not only is school staff, administrators, parents, and other providers are concerned over students physical health, but their social and emotional health as well.
The Auburn City School District will have a decision by this Friday, August 7th. Which is when Governor Cuomo will announce whether school districts will be able to open for in-person learning this September.
