Following the Department of Education’s release of the
COVID-19 Handbook, Volume 2: Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting
All Students' Needs, which includes research-based strategies to
address the impact of the pandemic on students, educators, and
staff, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona held a virtual
roundtable with a diverse group of students and parents to discuss
their educational and personal experiences during the COVID-19
pandemic. Secretary Cardona listened to students and parents and
promised to take the information he learned and the stories he heard
back to stakeholders and policymakers.
During the conversation, participants shared highlights and asked
for improvements based on their experiences during the pandemic.
Some of the students spoke about the importance of continuing to use
prevention practices such as wearing masks consistently and
correctly. The Secretary encouraged them to share that same
information with their peers as a way to support everyone’s safety
and hasten a return to safe social events.
Other students shared that they miss social activities and
interactions among their peers. A twelfth-grade student who joined
the conversation said, “I would say in class we would have
discussions, when we moved to virtual it is impossible to get the
same type of engagement in class discussions. A lot of the
communication between students and teachers broke down.”
Secretary Cardona also asked each student about how they are
dealing with their mental and emotional health. “Parents and
teachers think that kids can handle all of the stress, but there are
mental health issues that are being neglected. We haven’t been able
to see our friends and need more social interaction during school,”
said a seventh-grade student who participated in the conversation.
Secretary Cardona said, “Listening to all of you, I feel that
there’s a sense of urgency to get this right because our kids are
waiting. Throughout this conversation, I took great notes. I’m
gathering information so when I meet with the President, when I meet
with policymakers and folks that are interested in education, we
have your voice at the table.” |
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