Navigating Back-to-School in a Pandemic
Hype for the Fall Semester
Finding the right Zoom background, searching for the strongest wifi connection in the house, and ensuring you have the right headphones are just a few ways that the fall semester looks different for students this year. With COVID cases still high in the United States, many schools are offering online courses to allow students to quarantine while continuing their education.
But, even with all the changes, there’s still back-to-school excitement in the air, right? Maybe not. An analysis of Google Search data shows how key school-related searches, such as “back to school,” “school supplies,” and “first day of school” are significantly lower than they were last year. In fact, this year’s annual “back to school” searches are the lowest in the last five years.
With all the obstacles to this year’s fall semesters, educators are struggling to connect with students. In many elementary schools, teachers are trying to form a relationship with students they have never met in person over video calls with a full class. However, this is only the case when students have the ability to log into online courses.
Many students do not have the technology needed to take classes virtually. Overworked school districts are struggling to provide iPads, Chromebooks, or other tech to students on time, which disrupts low-income students’ education the most. With all the challenges facing students and educators this year, it’s no wonder the back to school excitement is low.
Concerns over COVID in the Classroom
However, not all classrooms this year are digital. With schools across the country reopening, many parents are wondering if it’s safe for their kids to get back in the classroom. Breakout google searches for “Is it safe to go back to school,” “Is it safe to send kids back to school,” and “Is it safe for kids to go back to school” showcase some of the concerns among parents.
An analysis of Google search data shows a high number of searches in states that have already seen schools with COVID-19 outbreaks. According to a report by Fatherly updated on August 28, there were already over 850 outbreaks linked to schools. However, fully understanding the role of schools in the spread of COVID is difficult because there is no federal data on school-linked COVID-19 cases.
The lack of leadership from our federal government has led to crowd-sourced data, which currently reports cases related to over 1,800 schools nationwide. According to the data, Florida, Ohio, Texas, and Georgia currently have the highest number of reported cases in schools and also see some of the most searches relating to safety in the classroom.
Without national data, schools cannot determine what safety procedures are the most successful. In some areas, parents may not even be made aware of potential outbreaks in their own or neighboring communities. The dismal reality for parents in the United States is that the Federal government’s mismanagement of data will make it nearly impossible for them to make an informed choice about their child’s education this fall.
