Community Centers, Museums Become Schools
2020-11-23
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1To ease social distancing and reduce health risks linked to in-person learning, school administrators are getting creative about finding more space.
2In the United States, some schools are setting up outdoor shelters and making use of other empty spaces, like museums.
3In normal times, people get married at a large convention center in Hesston, Kansas.
4Businesses hold training programs for workers at the convention center, while Christian groups use it for religious events.
5But during the coronavirus health crisis, the building has become a schoolhouse for middle school students.
6Megan Kohlman teaches literature and writing inside one of the rooms.
7Her class is separated from a math teacher's space by only a thin piece of plastic.
8For Kohlman, this class is an improvement from distance learning last spring.
9"Everyone just really believes in the power of having kids with us as much as we can," Kohlman said.
10As infection rates rise across central Kansas, some education leaders say they wish more schools would consider different approaches to learning.
11Joseph Allen is an associate professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Massachusetts.
12He says the costs of keeping children out of school are "devastating."
13He believes that more creativity is needed in how schools work during the coronavirus health crisis.
14"With schools, we seem to be stuck in this closed mindset where it is only in schools or in the existing setup or it is not going to happen," Allen said.
15In New York City, Council Member Ben Kallos pushed for unused stores and buildings to be used as classrooms, along with libraries and senior centers.
16But the idea did not go far because of concerns about laws, costs and other issues.
17Kallos said that New York had many empty stores before the health crisis.
18That problem has only gotten worse.
19"It seems only natural that the city could have activated each and every one of these spaces to serve our children in this time of need. It is disappointing and .... irresponsible that the city didn't do it," Kallos said.
20However, some 1,100 New York City schools have been approved to spend part of their day outdoors.
21The city's schools have enough indoor space for social distancing but are also using other spaces, such as closed streets.
22That information comes from Katie O'Hanlon of the New York City Department of Education.
23Nationwide, many school systems have moved classes outdoors or are making plans to do so, said Sharon Danks.
24Danks heads Green Schoolyards America, a California non-profit group that works in support of outdoor education.
25In New Orleans, the Louisiana Children's Museum has been used as a classroom for about 60 students.
26Young children from Langston Hughes Academy can spread out among the indoor exhibits.
27Outside, there are flower gardens and trees.
28"If this building were empty day in and day out, it would just be depressing," said the museum's chief Julia Bland.
29"The teachers have been totally engaged by this. They say they have never been so excited about going to work."
30Samantha Keppler is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan's business school.
31She wrote early this year that schools could use the power of relationships with religious groups and other organizations to add space to make school reopenings safer.
32She said it has not happened as much as she had hoped.
33I'm John Russell.
1To ease social distancing and reduce health risks linked to in-person learning, school administrators are getting creative about finding more space. 2In the United States, some schools are setting up outdoor shelters and making use of other empty spaces, like museums. 3In normal times, people get married at a large convention center in Hesston, Kansas. Businesses hold training programs for workers at the convention center, while Christian groups use it for religious events. But during the coronavirus health crisis, the building has become a schoolhouse for middle school students. 4Megan Kohlman teaches literature and writing inside one of the rooms. Her class is separated from a math teacher's space by only a thin piece of plastic. 5For Kohlman, this class is an improvement from distance learning last spring. "Everyone just really believes in the power of having kids with us as much as we can," Kohlman said. 6As infection rates rise across central Kansas, some education leaders say they wish more schools would consider different approaches to learning. 7Joseph Allen is an associate professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Massachusetts. He says the costs of keeping children out of school are "devastating." He believes that more creativity is needed in how schools work during the coronavirus health crisis. 8"With schools, we seem to be stuck in this closed mindset where it is only in schools or in the existing setup or it is not going to happen," Allen said. 9In New York City, Council Member Ben Kallos pushed for unused stores and buildings to be used as classrooms, along with libraries and senior centers. But the idea did not go far because of concerns about laws, costs and other issues. 10Kallos said that New York had many empty stores before the health crisis. That problem has only gotten worse. 11"It seems only natural that the city could have activated each and every one of these spaces to serve our children in this time of need. It is disappointing and .... irresponsible that the city didn't do it," Kallos said. 12However, some 1,100 New York City schools have been approved to spend part of their day outdoors. The city's schools have enough indoor space for social distancing but are also using other spaces, such as closed streets. That information comes from Katie O'Hanlon of the New York City Department of Education. 13Nationwide, many school systems have moved classes outdoors or are making plans to do so, said Sharon Danks. Danks heads Green Schoolyards America, a California non-profit group that works in support of outdoor education. 14In New Orleans, the Louisiana Children's Museum has been used as a classroom for about 60 students. Young children from Langston Hughes Academy can spread out among the indoor exhibits. Outside, there are flower gardens and trees. 15"If this building were empty day in and day out, it would just be depressing," said the museum's chief Julia Bland. "The teachers have been totally engaged by this. They say they have never been so excited about going to work." 16Samantha Keppler is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan's business school. She wrote early this year that schools could use the power of relationships with religious groups and other organizations to add space to make school reopenings safer. She said it has not happened as much as she had hoped. 17I'm John Russell. 18John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 19_____________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21museum - n. a building in which objects of artistic, cultural or scientific interest are stored and shown to visitors 22kids - n. children 23approach - n. a way of doing something 24mindset - n. a particular way of thinking 25setup - n. the way that something is done or organized 26library - n. a building containing books, magazines and other publications for people to read or borrow 27senior - adj. involving or related to older people 28disappointing - adj. causing someone to feel unhappy 29exhibit - n. an object or a collection of objects that have been put out in a public space for people to look at 30excite - v. to cause or fuel strong feelings 31We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.