Schools – Brick and Mortar or Virtual?

School is underway. Most states and one of the most significant decisions have been made- go virtual or attend a brick-and-mortar school. I’m speaking about the subject because I have kids of my own. I’ve also placed my kids in both and found risks and benefits to my decision.

I placed my kids in virtual school during a time when school shootings were happening often. I think that was in 2019 or so. I was terrified and anxious every day I said bye to my kids. I felt the only solution was to unenroll from brick and mortar. That decision was perfect at the time because I felt a sense of calm wash over me.

In the first year of virtual, my kids thrived because not only did they have time for school, but they had time for themselves. Most days offered a ‘work at your own pace’ option, allowing them to complete their assignments earlier than usual. Because there weren’t many children in the classroom, the focus was solely on my child. This allowed for any intervention if problems arose with their studies. If we wanted to take a family trip, we weren’t forced to stay behind, only needing a laptop to attend school. But there were a few downfalls of the virtual world.

After the second year of virtual school, I noticed a decline in social skills. Although we were out and about quite often, it didn’t help with their interaction. I figured it was because most of the outings involved adults and not many children their age. Mine just lost the everyday interaction with like-minded children, hindering their social skills. Also, the strictness of the brick-and-mortar schedule is beneficial because it paves the way for a strict schedule in the workplace.

A majority of people I met have chosen one or the other. The reasoning behind the decision is based mainly because of religion being the top candidate. The second is due to one-on-one teaching. Each person must make the decision based on what works for them. I can say that I’m more inclined toward a brick-and-mortar school. But if I were faced with another anxiety-ridden school shooting moment, I would remove my child with a snap of the finger. As a parent, that’s the last thing I want to be faced with, and I’m with the majority on this.

Enjoy the 22-23 school year.

Photo by Breaux 1 (Brick & Mortar School)

Photo by Breaux 2 (Virtual - Online School)