School reopening amid Covid-19: Here’s what teens think about going back to school

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic schools have been shut down for the last two years. Lockdowns and the transition of education from traditional to online is now the standard. With the doors slowly opening up, students are engaged in debates about the possibility of online courses being superior to the traditional offline classes.

We spoke to over 200 teens about their opinions and found interesting viewpoints.

More than 70 percent of students prefer learning offline, and here’s the reason:

1. Recess doesn’t mean the same thing.

Recess for teens is the time to share meals, fighting over which food is most delicious and playing around at school with football or other. It seems that pranking your students by playing random music in Zoom classes isn’t nearly the same as having fun in the real world.

2. Assignments can be difficult

The fact that you are studying at home means that the deadlines for submission of assignments can be unpredictable, with some may require sleepless nights, or an urgent rush. Offline classes offer the advantage of teachers occasionally not remembering assignments, until that annoying student keeps reminding the teacher of them.

3. “Raise your hand if you have a doubt.”

Although raising your hand during class can be awkward, it’s actually the fastest method to clarify doubts or to ask questions. In online classes, it’s not always possible to get the same kind of quick response. Additionally, students in a school setting can visit an instructor in the classroom or access reading time during the school day or browse through books at the library.

Although some teenagers feel strongly in favor of offline classes, some have had a blast taking online classes:

The remaining 30 percent prefer online learning due to:

1. The most important thing is comfort.

The thought of sitting on the sofa or in bed snuggled up in a cozy blanket is just too relaxing for some teenagers to let go of. Furthermore, having access to the internet can make it much easier for students to skip classes or play games during school hours or even finish their homework at night.

2. Tricks and hacks

From remote applications and keeping in touch with friends through text messaging platforms to avoiding biometric authentication, teens have discovered new ways to pass their exams in a simpler method. These loopholes, as well as the new exam formats for online exams have drastically reduced pressure from teachers and parents and have made students feel less anxious.

3. Personal development

With less time in schools and more flexibility in online classes, students have the opportunity to explore their diverse hobbies. Indeed, many have created small-scale enterprises that turn their passions into careers and interacting with others outside of school and acquiring new techniques on the internet. The number of internships has increased dramatically in the last few years, helping teenagers become more independent and preparing them for the job market of today.

Although each has its own excellent arguments, the advantages of one style over the other are dependent on the teenagers themselves. Maybe we’ll get a new version that is a mix of both.