Poverty and online schooling

Jamaica Gleaner

12 Oct 202005:03

Summary

TLDRThe transcript describes the challenges faced by families during remote learning. It highlights the difficulties in managing children's education at home, especially with limited resources and inconsistent internet access. The speaker shares personal experiences of balancing work and supervising children’s online schooling, stressing the impact on students’ learning and engagement. Despite these struggles, the speaker notes some positive changes in the community, such as increased access to necessary equipment for online education. Overall, it portrays a complex situation of adapting to new educational environments amidst external challenges.

Takeaways

😕 The speaker lacks the necessary gadgets and is facing more problems as a result.
📅 The speaker mentions they are not working currently but have nighttime commitments.
😅 They get compliments but are dealing with challenges like managing time and responsibilities.
📶 The speaker relies on Wi-Fi, mentioning that they stay indoors and can't do much outside.
🎒 They have children, some in sixth grade, and one in a lower grade, who need constant supervision.
🖥️ Managing the children's online education is difficult, requiring back-and-forth monitoring.
⏰ One child has trouble starting their work on time, despite the work beginning at 9 o'clock.
📚 The speaker feels like they are reprogramming the kids, as they have forgotten basic skills during the break from school.
🙏 They are worried about how the online education experience will affect their children's future.
🏘️ Despite living in a challenging environment, like Trench Town with violence, the speaker hopes students with the right tools and supervision can succeed academically.

Q & A

What challenges is the speaker currently facing regarding their work?
-The speaker is not currently working due to an issue involving a 'bower' and plans to meet them at night.
How does the speaker describe their relationship with their wife and sister?
-The speaker acknowledges that they know their wife and may rely on their sister for help, indicating some form of familial support.
What is the speaker's concern regarding their community?
-The speaker mentions not seeing much of the community and expresses concerns about the uncertainty of external events, possibly related to limited access or isolation.
How does the speaker utilize Wi-Fi in their current situation?
-The speaker relies on Wi-Fi to access information and services, as their mobility seems limited.
What issue is the speaker experiencing with their children’s education?
-The speaker describes difficulties in managing their children's online schooling, specifically mentioning a child in sixth grade and others who need supervision to stay engaged.
What is the speaker’s concern regarding their son’s ability to start his schoolwork?
-The speaker is worried that their son is unable to log on to his schoolwork, which is supposed to start at 9 AM, affecting his progress.
What changes have occurred in the children's education since March?
-The speaker notes that the children have forgotten basic concepts and skills since the transition to online schooling in March, requiring reprogramming.
How does the speaker feel about the impact of online schooling on their children?
-The speaker is concerned that while the children are engaged online, they are not learning as effectively as they would in a physical classroom setting, which may affect their future education.
What factors does the speaker believe will influence the success of online learning?
-The speaker believes that having supportive parents who supervise the children and provide basic needs will contribute to the children’s success in online learning.
How does the speaker perceive the current state of their community, particularly in relation to online education?
-The speaker observes that despite living in a violent area (Trench Town), people seem to be acquiring the necessary equipment for their children to engage in online education, which gives them some hope for their children's success.

Outlines

00:00

🛠 Challenges with Lack of Tools and Support

The speaker explains how not having access to essential gadgets or tools is causing significant problems. Despite the need to help, the lack of resources is compounding the issues, leading to a difficult situation. They mention that they are not currently working and reference working with someone later, noting challenges throughout the day.

😌 Reflecting on Praise and Busy Schedules

The speaker talks about receiving numerous compliments while being out on the road. They mention handling various tasks and interactions during the day, implying a busy schedule. The speaker hints at a hectic routine and expresses some relief in keeping things going despite the busyness.

📶 Limited Connectivity and Community Challenges

The speaker describes their reliance on Wi-Fi for communication and connectivity, mentioning that being cut off from the internet makes everything more difficult. They reflect on the stress and unpredictability of life outside their home, especially when things don't go as planned, like losing connection or having other unexpected issues.

🏫 Managing Children’s Schooling Amid Chaos

The speaker highlights the challenge of managing children's education, particularly with three kids in sixth grade and one in first grade. They mention constantly moving between homes to ensure the kids are online and focused on their schoolwork, which adds to the daily pressure. They express concern about how disorganized the schooling process has been and the toll it's taking on the children.

😓 Struggles with Remote Learning and Reprogramming

The speaker details the difficulty of adapting children to remote learning, explaining that they need to 'reprogram' them after an extended break from school. They worry about the long-term impact of this disrupted education, noting that while the children may be online, they aren’t fully engaged or learning as they would in a traditional classroom.

🙏 Hope and Concern for Children's Future

The speaker expresses deep concern for the children's future education, pointing out that while the kids may enjoy not having to physically attend school, they are missing out on vital learning experiences. They emphasize the importance of having a supportive environment, such as a stable home and parents who can help, but worry about children in areas where these resources are limited.

📚 The Challenge of Learning in Difficult Environments

The speaker draws attention to the difficulties faced by children in violent areas like Trenchtown, where basic needs and learning resources are hard to come by. They observe that while some children have access to online tools and are able to keep up with their schoolwork, many others are not as fortunate, leading to a stark contrast in educational opportunities.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡gadgets

Gadgets refer to tools or devices that are essential for completing tasks. In the script, the speaker mentions not having gadgets, implying a lack of necessary resources, which makes handling certain responsibilities more difficult. This connects to the theme of struggling to meet basic needs.

💡problems

Problems in this context refer to challenges or difficulties faced by the speaker, such as balancing work, family, and education. The speaker mentions 'more problems on your hand,' emphasizing the growing complications without proper resources or support.

💡work

Work represents the speaker's employment or tasks. In the script, the speaker talks about not working due to external issues and the pressures involved in managing daily life. This highlights a central struggle of balancing personal and professional obligations.

💡nighttime

Nighttime is used in the script to indicate a period of meeting with people or handling specific tasks. The speaker mentions seeing others at night, which could imply unconventional work hours or difficulty fitting everything into a regular schedule.

💡compliment

Compliment here refers to positive recognition received by the speaker. It briefly touches on a moment of personal achievement or acknowledgment, which contrasts with the overall sense of struggle in the rest of the transcript.

💡Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi represents the internet connection necessary for modern communication and education. The speaker mentions using Wi-Fi to help navigate various tasks, particularly in relation to education, indicating its importance as a tool for learning during challenging times.

💡reprogramming

Reprogramming in this context refers to adjusting or retraining children's learning habits after a period of disruption. The speaker discusses how children have forgotten basic skills due to being out of school, requiring them to be 'reprogrammed' to adapt to new routines.

💡sixth grade

Sixth grade represents a key educational milestone for the speaker's children. The reference to their grade level highlights the importance of their academic development, and the speaker’s concern about ensuring they stay on track with their education despite disruptions.

💡basic needs

Basic needs refer to the essential requirements like food, shelter, and access to education. The speaker emphasizes that having basic needs met is crucial for students to participate in online learning, particularly in a difficult environment like Trench Town.

💡Trench Town

Trench Town is a specific location mentioned by the speaker, known for its struggles with violence and poverty. It serves as a backdrop to the challenges faced by the speaker and their children in accessing education and managing daily life in such an environment.

Highlights

The speaker faces challenges due to lack of gadgets, causing problems in helping others.

The speaker is not working now because of complications related to others involved.

The speaker appreciates those who help, receiving compliments but still feeling overwhelmed.

There are complications with managing daily tasks, particularly balancing technology and personal life.

The speaker uses Wi-Fi as a primary connection, yet issues persist in maintaining stability.

Managing multiple tasks, such as balancing work and helping children, creates added stress.

The speaker must move between different areas to ensure children's online participation in school.

Children in sixth grade face significant challenges adjusting to the new schooling methods.

The youngest child requires additional attention, which impacts the speaker's time and energy.

The speaker's son struggles to start his work on time due to issues with logging in.

The speaker expresses concerns about children's retention of basic skills due to disrupted schooling.

There is worry that children's learning engagement is not as effective in the current online format.

Children might enjoy the lack of physical school, but it could have long-term negative consequences.

Parental supervision plays a critical role in ensuring children's success during online schooling.

Students in disadvantaged areas face greater challenges, but some are still managing to adapt with help from parents and access to equipment.