Denver, Colo., Apr 17, 2020 / 05:12 pm (CNA).- It has been one month since most schools across the US closed their doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The solution to shuttered schools may seem simple, on the surface: move curriculum and teachers online. Teach classes on Zoom videos, assign and receive homework through Google Classroom, and send communications and grades via email or an online school portal.
But what happens when students, sent home to learn from their bedrooms or kitchen tables, do not have access to the internet at their house? Or when the whole family is studying or working from home, and the one computer in the household is needed by several people at once?
These are the questions Catholic schools have grappled with after the coronavirus forced the shutdown of schools across the nation, many of them for the rest of the school year.
The Archdiocese of Denver made the decision to close its schools on the night of Thursday, March 12. The following Friday had already been a planned day off for students and a working day for teachers, which was to the schools’ advantage as they figured out how to shift completely to distance learning.
“All Thursday night we figured out, okay, what would have to be true to make distance learning successful in the next two weeks?” Abriana Chilelli, director of curriculum and instruction in the Denver archdiocese, told CNA.
“Certainly, technology rose to the top, but also that children had internet access, that schools were able to get devices out to students. So we put together a think sheet, if you will, about a school’s capability of distance learning,” she said.
Originally, Chilelli said, the Catholic school system was planning for a two-week closure, but with some thought that it could be extended in a more long-term way.
During those two weeks, Chilelli said, some teachers “chose the paper-based route,” sending home packets with two weeks worth of materials with students.
During those initial two weeks, schools worked to get in touch with every family to evaluate their technology and internet needs for a longer-term closure.
“We realized…that we were short about 500 devices for students and 50 for teachers, plus 200 hotspots,” said Carol Nesbitt, director of schools marketing and communications in the Archdiocese of Denver. Those were the numbers after the archdiocese’s schools had already lent out whatever extra laptops and devices they had on hand.
“I heard of a student up in Glenwood Springs at St. Stephen’s school. The principal said he was trying to use his mom’s burner cell phone to get his assignments,” Nesbitt told CNA.
“We’ve heard from other principals who have said that (student’s families) have five people in one house, and mom and dad are both trying to work from home and they have one computer. So the kids can’t get on their Zoom call because mom has a call with her boss and different things,” she said.
The shortage motivated the office of schools to send out two emails, asking Denver Catholics to contribute to an emergency relief fund. So far, Nesbitt said, the fund has received $220,000 in donations, “which I think is incredible.”
It’s enough to start buying more computers and distributing them to families on a lending basis, Nesbitt said.
“The first 50 came yesterday…and we delivered to three schools right away, and the rest are coming in over the next few days. And we’ll turn those around as quickly as possible,” she said. “(It’s) all hands on deck to try to deliver those, of course, using social distancing measures,” she said. Families have also been able to pick up supplies from schools.
Chilelli said she thinks when it came to setting up long-term distance learning, Catholic schools were at an advantage because of their smaller sizes.
“I’m watching these large districts that, still a month later, don’t have contact with such huge percentages of their students. So I just think it’s a huge advantage of Catholic schools that we’re smaller, we can be more nimble and we have this one-on-one relationship with all of our families,” she said.
Dr. Brooke C. Tesche is the chancellor of education for the Diocese of Allentown, which has already announced that its schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year.
Tesche said while they’ve had some students who are lacking computers or tablets on which to do their work, the Catholic school system has been working to accommodate these students any way they can. One way, she said, has been through lending out existing technology at the schools to families.
Two local internet providers are currently offering free services in order to help students continue their education, which has also helped in Allentown.
“So many families who would not have been able to connect, are able to connect,” she said.
Still, Tesche added, there are students who do not have computers on which to complete their homework. For these students, teachers are putting together paper learning packets with two weeks of materials at a time. Parents and students can either pick up their packets in person, or see the packets mailed to students.
“So it’s definitely a challenge right now, but (teachers are) responding and using I think as many options as possible to make sure that the kids continue to move forward,” she said.
Tesche emphasized that schools are moving forward in their curriculum – rather than providing students with busy work or enrichment activities, teachers are working to prepare their students to be ready for the next grade level, whether schools will resume in-person in the fall or not.
The Diocese of Allentown is also unique in that it has the only Catholic high school for students in recovery from substance addiction, Kolbe Academy.
The school is in its first full year of operation, and so while it is “unfortunate” that the coronavirus closed the school’s doors in its first year, Tesche said those students have been able to move their instruction, and their counseling and therapy, completely online.
“We just had a student this week celebrate 100 days clean and sober,” she said. “I’m really proud of that. They are doing really good work.”
Additionally, the school system has also partnered with Catholic Charities at this time in order to be able to address any mental health or social-emotional needs that families might have, Tesche said.
“We’re just dovetailing really nicely to make sure they have support of Catholic Charities,” she said.
In Ontario, the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board said in a meeting this week that the district has been accommodating students without access to technology by providing them with weekly paper packets. Teachers have adjusted instruction so that each week is planned out in advance, and students can complete the weekly work at their own pace.
“…(the students) enjoy having the freedom to complete their work (on their own schedule)…they can do all their Monday and Tuesday work on Monday. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the work. Surprisingly, no complaints,” Anthony DeLorenzi, an H-SCDSB student representative, said during a board meeting this week, according to local news source SOOTODAY.com.
Rose Burton Spohn, H-SCDSB director of education, told the board that about 70 students in the district were lacking either computers or access to the internet, and that the packets were being delivered to students on an ongoing basis. Teachers have also made themselves available via phone calls to students who lack internet access, she said.
Catherine Thompson is the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for Diocese of Las Vegas. Thompson told CNA that while the district has had some students who lacked access to computers at home, educators were able to fill those needs with what the schools had on hand.
Thompson said that the schools prepared for the impending closures as they watched the development of the pandemic, and particularly how it was affecting some harder-hit states on the East Coast.
Part of that preparation included a couple of surveys sent to parents, asking them about their technological needs as well as what they would like to see out of the distance learning experience.
“(What) we needed to know was what type of devices would be available – iPads, tablets, are they Windows people, are they Mac people. So they provided us with that,” Thompson said.
“Then the next thing we wanted to know was their shared access amongst the entire family. Then we were looking at what is your internet access like? Was it excellent? Like would you rate it as reliable or average, it’s mostly reliable or very, very low quality or very limited? We needed to know if they had a printer, we needed to know if they had a scanner. Then we also wanted to know were they comfortable with us using things like YouTube with the children,” Thompson said.
She added that they also asked about access to non-technology materials, such as paper, pens, or markers. Another part of the preparation included training teachers as well as some parents on how to use platforms such as Zoom or Google Classroom.
Thompson said the teachers and schools also focused on how to make distance learning most effective without students having to spend every moment of their day in front of a screen.
“There are a lot of different pieces that you can do both online and offline,” she said. Some teachers have instruction time and then offline time for students to work.
Other teachers are getting creative and assigning things like “exercise or a drawing a picture or recording something, or just make a tent and go inside and read, little things that they could do both inside and outside,” she said.
Chilelli, too, added that the Denver Catholic school system has always emphasized that technology should not be used in education for its own sake.
“When we were figuring out what must be true about distance learning, we wanted to make sure that yes, it happened at home, but it was also philosophically aligned with what we believe about education and specifically Catholic education,” she said.
“We would always say that we don’t think that education should happen behind a computer screen, and that children should be engaged with texts, with great texts, they should be engaged in human interaction, and with primary documents. So we always promoted distance learning as being necessarily very simple – that it should not be just attempting to take on a technology just simply because it was out there,” she said.
Chilelli said the shift to distance learning also forced teachers to evaluate what the most essential learning standards were for each subject matter, and to focus their time and lessons on those most essential things.
“Let’s make sure that everything we’re asking students do is really worthy of their time, which we would always say, but even more importantly now,” she said.
Overall, Thompson said she’s been very impressed with the work both teachers and parents have done to make this new system work.
“I want people to know that our teachers are absolutely amazing. They are the lifeblood of our schools and they have just …the way and the manner in which they have risen to the occasion, the positive feedback that we’ve heard from our parents,” she said.
“They appreciate all the work that we’re doing on behalf of all of our students. Our schools – while our campuses are closed – our schools are very much open,” she said.
“The amazing teachers and principals, they’ve just done an amazing job working on behalf of our students. So I can’t say enough good things. I think that there will be so many more positives to come out of what’s been such a difficult situation.”
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As the results of this fair, unfair, take your choice election play out, and the illusory start of an era of peace and brotherly unity, the malignancy of self deception will come to fore to the delight of atheists and socialists and the chagrin, better dismay of Republicans and Catholics who voted for him. We need but wait until Biden if he is confirmed having promised to remove previous protection from the Little Sisters of the Poor noted here by CNA, enforces [here the senatorial miracle of the Marne and Trumps’ three Supreme Court justices may save the day] provision of abortifacients, and unrestricted abortion as rule of the Land. Minorities who voted for him with alacrity will find the only benefit the continued construction of Planned Parenthood facilities in their neighborhoods. Homosexuals will continue to propagate their self destructive moral disease on our children with Biden’s blessings. All under the pall of a deluded idea of freedom as true freedom. Faithful Catholics will suffer far more than previously but in doing so will merit far more than previously.
Let’s hope and pray Republicans can keep the Senate. Biden can’t do much with gridlock. Georgia voters, we’re watching you!
What a shame that our Bishops decided to wait until 2 weeks before the election to even MENTION abortion as a factor in one’s Catholic vote?? I can’t recall the last time I heard Catholic INSTRUCTION from the pulpit regarding Catholic position on homosexuality, abortion, trans-genderism or couples living together unmarried. The church has evidently decided to opt out of instructing its members in Catholic morals. Are they afraid that some will leave if their sin is pointed out? Or concerned about the loss of their donations? Or both? To that I say a smaller more faithful flock would not be a bad thing. And at least people would be fully informed about the TRUTH of Catholic belief. This election was a case of too little, too late, stated in a manner which was too timid.
Yes, the Senate is the thing now, as far as I can see. (Canadian here trying to follow the proceedings).
It will be interesting to see if/how Biden tries to rein in his left flank.
So God is cool with Francis as Pope and Uncle Joe as President of the USA. What good did prayer do, if this is the result? Call me Doubting Thomas: I need to see evidence that God is doing good things in the world and that perseverance in faithfully adhering to Catholic doctrine is worth it. Seems to me that being a Francis or Biden or Pelosi Catholic is the way to go. God doesn’t seem to mind.
Kevin: first piece of advice: turn off the TV. If you have FB or Instagram, suspend the accounts for awhile. Pick up a good book and read. Find a subject that interests you.
Things are bad, and I don’t mean to downplay that, nor downplay how much worse things can get. They may get much, much worse indeed.
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But as bad as things may get, they have been much worse than even that. God willing, we will not go through another Year A.D. 536 any time soon. That actually is the one Youtube video you might want to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JBdedLx-GI
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Be thankful we will line 2020 and not 536.
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God gave people free will. Some choose to do truly horrific things, but others choose to help out their neightbor’s flooded home. I know, because I was a recipient of such assistance.
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Stop waiting for God to do good. YOU go do good. Perhaps then you will see that no, you have not been abadndonned.
*we live in 2020 not 536
Timeline is a great series. Ive actually watched that episode before.
There’s a wealth of good things to watch on YouTube. Thank you for sharing that link.
Come January 2021, the United States of America likely will have a Catholic President, Speaker of the House and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. We have finally made it in America! These three, and so many others like them, are a testament to what the Church in the US has become over the last sixty years. Bishops, behold the fruits of your and your predecessors’ labors.
That’s a good one.
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Hope they USCCB gets everything they have been promoting . . . good and hard.
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The following actions by Trump continue to validate that his narcissism just can’t allow him to lose. His close advisers have asked him not to pursue the frivolous and not supported by fact legal attempts, post election. Just imagine that Trump has not called Biden to offer “congratulations”. His DNA will not allow him to accept any advice he disagrees with even when facts support that difference. His epitaph will include he was the most polarizing president in history.
Because Trump’s arch supporters will no longer be able to enable him, thus they may put a “for sale” sign on their front doors. Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Newsmax and yes even the church. A major polarization is the subject of abortion. Trump, for political reasons, calls himself a “right to life” candidate when he was a pro-choice individual for most of this adult life. Biden has waffled on the subject. I do hold some hope that he will respect his churches value of life. I would ask Biden… look into the eyes of your precious children and tell me which one would you have aborted for frivolous reasons?
Excerpt:
“President Donald Trump has not conceded the election, citing recounts and legal challenges to some statewide counts. Since election night, Trump has alleged widespread fraud in the election and claimed himself to be the winner of all “legal votes.” On Saturday, he said calling the race was premature.
Tell me, morganB, back in 2000 when Kerry insisted that Bush hadn’t won and demanded a recount, were you advising him and his supporters that it was frivolous to demand a recount?
“Biden has waffled on the subject. I do hold some hope that he will respect his churches value of life. I would ask Biden… look into the eyes of your precious children and tell me which one would you have aborted for frivolous reasons?”
You are gullible beyond belief if you think that he will respect life, any more than Nancy Pelosi does. I’ll grant you that his surviving son is so precious to him that there is considerable evidence that he colluded with him to peddle influece and rake in money. But he sold his soul to the devil of abortion in order to get power; he’s unlikely to renege on his bargain now.
And abortion is wrong whether the reasons are frivolous or not.
Have you read about any of the shenanigans that went on regarding the vote? They’re not appearing on the mainstream media, of course, s perhaps you ought to do a little investigating of things like the late-night ballot dumps that all seemed to go in one direction, the statistical improbabilities, the preventing of Republican observers from geting close enough to observe…
Leslie, you seem to be anxious to convey your message. I don’t mind being tarred with a broad brush, but other souls may be insulted. All life is precocious. I would suggest that you lower the heat on the polarizing rhetoric. Your introspection would be a blessing.
If they are insulted by the truth, that’s a problem with which they will have to deal.
If you do indeed believe that all life is precious, why would you vote for the representatives of a party who support abortion to the last moment before birth and have not repudiated those members who approve the killing of babies who have already been born?
MorganB – so you don’t see the ridiculous irony of you telling someone to tone down on the polarizing rhetoric, you of all people! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. You have no self-awareness.
All life is precocious(sic) morganB
You’re as much of a gaffeman as infanticide promoting Biden is, morgan. The sad thing is that neither one of you realizes it.
precocious adjective
pre·co·cious | \ pri-ˈkō-shəs
1 : exceptionally early in development or occurrence // precocious puberty
2 : exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age // a precocious child
Trump has the right and responsibility to verify the results of the election, particularly in those states where there are clear indications of possible fraud. Your own narcissism prevents you from seeing that. Your assumption that Biden will change course on his unequivocal support for abortion is also disconnected from reality, which is par for the course in terms of your posts.
If Biden had not capitulated to the extremist edge of the pro feticide lobby his chances of being the Democrat candidate would have been nil. He really has not said no to any scenario right up until infanticide. Perhaps even that.
It’s just appalling.
Morgan,
Does it matter to a dead child if their life was taken frivolously? Does seriously considering the options before committing feticide make a difference to the deceased infant? The end result is the same.
Don’t presume to speak in ignorance on God’s behalf. The scriptures clearly teach that God’s patience in not punishing sin immediately should not be interpreted as Him being indifferent. The wrath of God will be revealed against all ungodliness at some point, even yourself you do not repent. Don’t worry about Francis, Pelosi, or Biden. Get your own spiritual house in order.
Then don’t ask me to help fix the world if God won’t do his part. How many prolifers have spent decades trying to make the country more prolife, only to have that go down the tubes with a “Catholic” president who will undo much of their work? They should be among the most demoralized of all. Thanks a lot, God.
How many pro-life people are undermining their pro-life-ness and the policies they wish to implement (elimination of abortion) while using contraception? The vast majority. I am even willing to bet a huge hunk of young people who go to pro-life rallies are participating in unrepentent fornication. They barely know any better. Many older ones are divorced/remarried.
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Contraception and abortion are linked. Always have been. Always will be. Planned Parenthood and Abortion, Inc. know it well even if “pro-life people” refuse to believe it. No one fights harder to flood society with contraceptives than Planned Parenthood. They would not do so except that it increases the “need” for abortion and their services. Planned Parenthood gleefully go into public schools and teach about the need for contraception so teens can explore their “sexuality” and engage in fornication–thereby increasing the need for contracptives and abortions.
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And based on what I have experienced with doctors, regular ob/gyns would rather have young people be on contraceptives, sexually active, and come down with a fertility-reducing STD than deal with a happily pregnant patient–because the happily pregnant patient is a walking medical malpractice lawsuite if she becomes unhappy and doesn’t have a perfect Gerber baby. It is simply not in an ob/gyn’s financial-bottom-line interest to have pregnant patients. Teens on contraceptives and treating STDs pay the bill and are far safer.
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Honestly, pro-lifers are like people who hear their CO detector go off and open the windows, but refuse to go check the furnance and/or have it repaired.
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As Father Anthony Zimmerman once wrote: Contraception is creeping death.
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https://catholicsagainstcontraception.com/fr_anthony_zimmerman_contraception_is_creeping_death.htm
Yup.
Sonia Albright, don’t blame God. Blame the “Catholics” who really don’t know their faith and what it teaches. Many have not bothered to inform themselves nor delve into the issues, and are content with misinformation from a sound bite on the evening news. And this often leads to an ill-formed conscience.
The Catholic vote in this election was split right down the middle, with roughly 51% in favor of Trump, and 49% in favor of Biden.
Bishops and pastors need to lead. The number one social justice issue is the pro-life issue.
For whatever it might be worth, the following is part of a longer posting now making the rounds…
“1st…the winner of the President is not official until the electoral college meets and casts their votes. Until that happens, it is not final….regardless of what the MEDIA tells you. The electoral college can’t decide anything because there are lawsuits and the court proceedings must take place first.
“2nd….Court proceedings are GUARANTEED to happen in Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia and Pennsylvania, and possibly Nevada and Arizona. But as of now they are GUARANTEED to happen in those 4 states. The SCOTUS won’t allow any litigation to proceed beyond inauguration because that would be a constitutional crisis. So they’ll make quick decisions.”
In short, let every vote count…but let every ballot counted be verified as a legitimate vote. For good form, at least, the bishops should have withheld their congratulations until all votes are certified, not only until the media (the Associated Press) made its projection.