A Feature by Danica Panti.
The Coronavirus pandemic has forced many students, like freshman Taylor Minter, to adjust to online learning. While the idea of virtual classrooms has received mixed emotions, some students enjoy this new form of learning.
“It’s refreshing, I love being able to see people, at least virtually. I personally won’t be going back in person, but this is a good substitute for interaction,” says Minter. “A pro is definitely that I can just hop on a Discord call after class and talk with my friends after I’m done with my work; I usually have about an extra quarter of an hour.”
Despite these benefits, online learning has its cons, some of which can be frustrating. For example, the area where Taylor lives had a power outage on September 14th in the middle of the 6th period, which took 25-30 minutes to resolve.
“I feel like stable internet connection is a pain, it went out for like 30 minutes today- that is a major con!” said Minter. Issues with the internet connection have been a common occurrence for many students this year, and not having access to the internet can make learning difficult. Nevertheless, there is only one other solution- returning to in-person learning- which has proven to be tedious.
Taft High School continues to use online learning, and they have invited all students who have chosen in-person learning back into the main building. The campus has instituted strict regulations for interactions and learning, like wearing masks and social distancing, to ensure students’ safety.