This is what the fall will look like in school districts across the country.
Empty chairs. Empty whiteboards and chalkboards. Empty heads.
No in-person classes. All virtual.
I am going to use a writing crutch right now to emphasize a point. I am pulling Webster in for defining purposes only. vir-tu-al; almost or nearly as described, but not completely or according to strict definition.
Don't know about you but "almost" and "nearly" really don't hit home with me when it comes to my kids. "Well, he almost accomplished that." "She nearly received that." Cliche but it sounds like we are playing with horseshoes and grenades here.
From a social, emotional intelligence and intellectual perspective, kids need to be in school. Period. Teacher-student and student-student interactions are critical and crucial. In-person builds the person. The dynamics make it dynamic.
The same rings true with sports. The lifelong lessons that come from sports are invaluable. Teamwork. Hard work. Commitment. Resolve. Learning how to win and lose graciously. Mixing the pain from losing with the elation from winning into one big ol' cocktail is the elixir that makes life work.
Whether it be the classroom or the field, empty chairs and empty sidelines neither fills the heart nor the head.
Simply put, "almost" and "nearly" don't cut it.
I get it. We don't have answers right now and everyone is trying very hard to make this work but "virtual" leads to a virtue-less.
Give me the real thing. Anyday of the week.
Daguanno? Here.
