Aidan Lasky ’22 (Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge)
While many Northwood students and faculty enjoyed their extended Thanksgiving and Christmas break, one email may have sent some dreading the start of classes. John Spear, Assistant Head for School Life had announced in an email that classes would resume January 5 and be virtual for three weeks because our return date would be pushed back to January 18, 2021.
During these three weeks academics would be 4 classes a day each an hour long except for Wednesdays with 5 classes each an hour long as well. Many students found those times concerning. The length of the in–person classes seemed exactly right at 45 minutes long. An hour for an online class seemed too long.
Aidan Lasky ‘22 said, “I feel like the hour-long class times are a bit too long. I feel like the 45 minutes long classes were perfect times because I can stay easily focused for that time.”
Kira Cook ’23 (Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge)
The class times were not the only concerns expressed by students. Some had a hard time imagining getting back onto their computers for several hours of homework in the evening. Kira Cook ‘23 said, “I’m not the biggest fan of hour-long classes and then after a day of classes a few hours of homework is kind of a lot.” Teachers may find the work load manageable for students, but some students might disagree.
Virtual classes are not easy for either the teacher or the students, as many want to be together on campus, but it is safe to say the students at Northwood have some suggestions to make it a little bit better.
