Distance Learning in the United States
2020-09-02
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1Across America, many public spaces are taking on an unlikely new responsibility this fall.
2They are welcoming children for distance learning while their parents go to work.
3Among such places are martial arts centers, dance schools, community centers and libraries.
4With many schools still closed because of the coronavirus crisis, a lot of Americans are looking for places to provide supervised learning to children during the workday.
5These places can help families that had difficulties with distance learning last spring.
6But organizers admit they are a poor replacement for schools with professional educators.
7One example is in Broward County, Florida.
8When schools in the area announced plans to begin the new year with distance learning, dance studio owner Katie Goughan thought immediately about the difficulties facing working parents.
9Her dance school, Dance Explosion Company in Hollywood, Florida, hired a temporary teacher.
10The teacher is there from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to make sure the students are studying.
11The dance school program costs $150 a week, or $35 a day.
12"I thought to myself, 'What would my parents have done with me?'" Goughan said.
13She added that she wanted to reduce "any stress that parents might be under right now trying to find somewhere for their kids to do their schoolwork."
14The dance school currently accepts 10 children during the day.
15All of them wear face coverings.
16Goughan says temperature checks are carried out and the children are urged to use hand sanitizer often.
17Some experts note, however, that inviting students to gather in new spaces could increase the risk of caregivers catching the virus.
18Dr. Aileen Marty is a disease specialist at Florida International University.
19She told The Associated Press that the only way groups outside of school will work is "if you know everybody in that group, a very small group, and everyone is tested and tested negative."
20Jennifer Quisenberry, a 37-year-old nurse practitioner, is sending her 6-year-old daughter, Audra, to a "distance learning camp."
21The program is held at Premier Martial Arts in Wildwood, Missouri.
22Her daughter's school district is beginning the year online.
23But Jennifer and her husband have to go to work.
24"We can't not come to work," Quisenberry said.
25"My partners said I could bring Audra to work. But a hospital is not an ideal setting for a 6-year-old in the middle of a pandemic."
26While many wealthy American parents are turning to so-called "learning pods" and private teachers, nonprofits and local governments are trying to help low income families.
27In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, city officials announced recently that they would open 31 drop-off sites at community centers, libraries, and other places.
28The program will pay attention to families with the greatest need, including those who cannot afford childcare and those who do not have internet at home.
29San Francisco is creating "community learning hubs" at 40 places across the city to help with distance learning for children who are poor, homeless, in foster care or learning English as a second language.
30In Kansas City, Missouri, the parks department is working with nonprofit groups to offer distance learning to hundreds of students.
31For students from Kansas City Public Schools, the city's poorest district, the program is free.
32"It is tough for parents with school-aged children who are too old to go to preschool, and hiring a babysitter or nanny is not an option for their finances," said Roosevelt Lyons, deputy director of operations for the parks department.
33Carrie Hutchcraft is the chief administrator with the Magic House, a children's museum in Kirkwood, Missouri.
34The museum offers a distance learning program for about 80 students each day.
35Hutchcraft's own 9- and 7-year-olds will be among them.
36"I feel like they already have got behind in learning new things last year, but we can't do that again," she said.
37I'm John Russell
1Across America, many public spaces are taking on an unlikely new responsibility this fall. They are welcoming children for distance learning while their parents go to work. Among such places are martial arts centers, dance schools, community centers and libraries. 2With many schools still closed because of the coronavirus crisis, a lot of Americans are looking for places to provide supervised learning to children during the workday. 3These places can help families that had difficulties with distance learning last spring. But organizers admit they are a poor replacement for schools with professional educators. 4One example is in Broward County, Florida. When schools in the area announced plans to begin the new year with distance learning, dance studio owner Katie Goughan thought immediately about the difficulties facing working parents. 5Her dance school, Dance Explosion Company in Hollywood, Florida, hired a temporary teacher. The teacher is there from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to make sure the students are studying. The dance school program costs $150 a week, or $35 a day. 6"I thought to myself, 'What would my parents have done with me?'" Goughan said. She added that she wanted to reduce "any stress that parents might be under right now trying to find somewhere for their kids to do their schoolwork." 7The dance school currently accepts 10 children during the day. All of them wear face coverings. Goughan says temperature checks are carried out and the children are urged to use hand sanitizer often. 8Some experts note, however, that inviting students to gather in new spaces could increase the risk of caregivers catching the virus. 9Dr. Aileen Marty is a disease specialist at Florida International University. She told The Associated Press that the only way groups outside of school will work is "if you know everybody in that group, a very small group, and everyone is tested and tested negative." 10Jennifer Quisenberry, a 37-year-old nurse practitioner, is sending her 6-year-old daughter, Audra, to a "distance learning camp." The program is held at Premier Martial Arts in Wildwood, Missouri. 11Her daughter's school district is beginning the year online. But Jennifer and her husband have to go to work. 12"We can't not come to work," Quisenberry said. "My partners said I could bring Audra to work. But a hospital is not an ideal setting for a 6-year-old in the middle of a pandemic." 13While many wealthy American parents are turning to so-called "learning pods" and private teachers, nonprofits and local governments are trying to help low income families. 14In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, city officials announced recently that they would open 31 drop-off sites at community centers, libraries, and other places. The program will pay attention to families with the greatest need, including those who cannot afford childcare and those who do not have internet at home. 15San Francisco is creating "community learning hubs" at 40 places across the city to help with distance learning for children who are poor, homeless, in foster care or learning English as a second language. 16In Kansas City, Missouri, the parks department is working with nonprofit groups to offer distance learning to hundreds of students. For students from Kansas City Public Schools, the city's poorest district, the program is free. 17"It is tough for parents with school-aged children who are too old to go to preschool, and hiring a babysitter or nanny is not an option for their finances," said Roosevelt Lyons, deputy director of operations for the parks department. 18Carrie Hutchcraft is the chief administrator with the Magic House, a children's museum in Kirkwood, Missouri. The museum offers a distance learning program for about 80 students each day. Hutchcraft's own 9- and 7-year-olds will be among them. 19"I feel like they already have got behind in learning new things last year, but we can't do that again," she said. 20I'm John Russell 21Heather Hollingsworth and Freida Frisaro reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 22______________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24martial - n. of or relating to combat, fighting, war or soldiers 25stress - n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc. 26sanitizer - n. a chemical substance designed to kill germs 27negative - adj. not showing the presence of a particular germ, condition, or substance 28pandemic - n. medical : an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world 29hub - n. the central and most active part or place 30foster -- adj. always used before a noun used to describe a situation in which for a period of time a child lives with and is cared for by people who are not the child's parents 31museum -- n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public