Mooney: Distance learning hurts all grades

By on Friday, January 15th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

HERMISTON – An estimated 40 percent of Oregon’s high school seniors are struggling under comprehensive distance learning. Superintendent Tricia Mooney said Hermiston is facing a similar situation.

“This isn’t the best model for instructing students,” she said. “Our kids, across the board, need a connection with an adult and particularly at the high school level.”

Mooney said high school students are not just missing adult connections, but are also doing without the lessons learned by working with their peers in many activities. However, she stressed the class of 2021 should not be singled out among all the other students who are learning from home.

“The need for one age level of student isn’t greater than another,” she said. “The need for our kindergarten students isn’t greater than the need for our seniors. It’s just different.”