The Digital Divide: Atlantic City, Education and Covid 19 Part One
The Light with Raymond Tyler
In March of 2020 school’s across the nation were closing in a matter of days. Some schools closed their doors in a matter of hours due to community spread of Covid-19.
Atlantic City Schools were not spared, and shut their doors for the remainder of 2020. Where some schools closed down in a panic, Atlantic City sent home notes to parents. These messages to parents and caregivers were to let them know that in a few days students would not be returning to school for class and that in those last days every step would be taken to keep students safe. The main reason for the communication however, was so that parents/caregivers could make some kind of arrangements for children to be looked after.
Kaleem Shabazz is the President of The Atlantic City Chapter of The NAACP and explains that the caring for Atlantic City students included more than just babysitting or even lesson planning. “We are well aware that many of our students/residents were receiving free or discounted lunch.” Shabazz began. “Some of them were even receiving breakfast.” Shabazz explained. “I am happy to report that throughout the school closings (and even now) students can report to their school in the mornings and get a bag lunch.” Shabazz admits that a cold lunch is not ideal but concedes that there were not better options at the time. He also acknowledges that for some students in Atlantic City that bag lunch may be all they would get to eat. I have talked to some teachers who explained that in some cases those bag lunches had to be shared with younger non school aged siblings. Some schools went so far as to give students extra bags of food for the weekend.
While plans were being made to close Atlantic City School, teachers were working with The Board Of Education to come up with a plan to continue learning. I spoke with Reginald Kearney, a 20 plus year veteran teacher of Math at Atlantic City Highschool. Mr. Kearney confirmed that students were issued new chrome book computers and that students were afforded the opportunity to receive hotspot devices provided they called Comcast.
I asked Mr. Kearney about attendance during the pandemic via virtual classes. While all classes were remote, Mr. Kearney states that attendance for his class was at 80-90%. Today Atlantic City Highschool is now in session, in person Monday to Thursday (with Friday still being 100% virtual.) Mr. Kearney explained “Most of the kids are still staying home. On average, I’d say we have between 250-300 students daily (of a student body of approximately 1700 students.) Mr. Kearney states that attendance to his class either virtually or in person is still at about 80-90%.
Overall Kearney has seen stress get the best of some students that have missed interaction with teachers. Mr. Kearney has also seen teachers stress with trying to teach classes like pottery or dance via zoom. I asked Mr. Kearney what he wanted our readers to know about how Atlantic City High School has managed the digital divide during covid and he said. “Teachers have had to become real creative as far as teaching the material, students have had to become more disciplined when it comes to deadlines.”
This story was produced thanks to a reporting grant facilitated by the Center for
Cooperative Media at Montclair State University and funded by New Jersey Children’sFoundation.
You can connect with Raymond Tyler via Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram @RaymondTyler2018.
