Why is guaranteeing the Internet in every home not a priority?
School is back and with it is distance learning (everyone’s favorite educational term of 2020). While some schools have resumed in person sessions, many are utilizing a blended or a completely remote model. That is to say nothing of higher education and their massive shift to exclusively distance learning. So with this as the new normal, where is the push to ensure that every American household has access to the internet?
This is not about whether you are in favor of distance learning or not (you can read that here), we simply need to accept that this format of instruction is not going away. Recently New York State announced a pilot program that would shift snow day closures into distance learning days. Whether you like the format or not, that is a clever idea to save school days. How long until summer school shifts to distance learning? Or Saturday classes are offered online? It seems like a cheaper way to extend the amount of schooling that is available for our students.
We need to keep in mind that none of this works if students cannot access the internet. A recent story went viral about two little girls sitting outside of a Taco Bell using the restaurant’s Wi-Fi to complete their school work. The story ends with funds being raised for the family and the district providing a hot spot, but there are countless stories that we will not hear and that will not have this happy of an ending. The fact remains that digital divide still exists and is growing. Why do we not hear about this on the news? Why aren’t our politicians pushing for a change?
Most educators remember the educational policy of No Child Left Behind, well now we have an educational practice that leaves many children behind. We have very real problems in the world right now, so it may be understandable that the push for the internet to be treated like a utility with guaranteed access for all has not been at the front of people’s minds, but school has started and students need the internet to attend classes in many parts of the country and they are not able to. Perhaps we can use this topic to unify us to secure a better future for our children.