Page 18 - FunAsiA DesiPages Digital June 2020

PEOPLE SPEAK PAGE #2
like cooking and gardening.” been drive-through celebrations. Teachers
driving to congratulate the graduating kids’
HOMESCHOOLING BRINGS SOME STRUCTURE AND homes and more.
ROUTINE TO THE DAY
One could easily fall into a lazy set back mode by staying at home KIDS HAVE HANDLED IT BETTER THAN
and no school. However, this time it was different. Assignments ADULTS
had to be submitted and progress needed to be made towards Many parents expressed that they are amazed
the curriculum. Hence to be productive, one needed to follow a at how their little kids are more understanding
routine and structure. Roshni Newaskar a mom of two in Dallas than what they had expected from them. They
says, “I think the whole e-learning experience set a routine for have been following the stay at home discipline
the kids and myself during the week and kept the learning going and not making it difficult for parents. At a
to whatever extent possible. It definitely added extra work for me tender age when their activities in sports and
but I still think it was worth it. Having said that, I am not sure if I outdoors have been limited, they have shown
am ready for yet another semester if that’s what schools decide immense maturity. According to Vishal Bhasin,
to do during Fall” father of 3 kids, “Kids have handled it better
than most adults. They lost school learning
AS A PARENT, I CAN DO ONLY SO MUCH but gained on home-based learning. Learning
We cannot refute the fact that to shape up a child in all dimensions, new skills, figuring out how to stay in these
schools and teachers play a very crucial role. Parent’s role is restrictive times, adjusting to online learning
important but they cannot replace what school can provide as and socializing, all this is very progressive of
they are not equally equipped or trained. Sandhya Sarma is a them”.
mom of two high schoolers now. Her younger daughter who
has special needs also moved to high school this year to join 2020 indeed has created many different
her brother. She says ‘I have enjoyed the time spent with my sorts of memories. The many things that we
daughter while she learns but it has its own challenges. I think took for granted are not the same anymore.
homeschooling is a good short-term solution to deal with this We have learned to appreciate a lot more.
pandemic but kids need their teachers and friends. As a parent, I Unanimously parents have admitted and
can only do so much. I do enjoy teaching her and learning with appreciated the quality time they have had
her has been fun so far”. with their kids at home, but they have also

expressed their struggles. Teachers have once
FAMILY BONDING again shown how involved they are with our
On the positive side, every parent we spoke to agreed that they kids and have made every possible effort to
got the much-needed family time with each other. Some parents provide knowledge to them, despite adverse
who have traveling jobs have e a different kind of challenge. This situations. Whatever is the decision for
forced stay-at-home vacation was much appreciated by them. opening up schools, we know that we will be
Sonia Bhatia Lopes finds homeschooling good as she gets to do together and work out things to the best of our
it on her own pace having fun and family time. She says “I think abilities and do what is right for our kids. This
this was much needed especially for my family since my husband global pandemic is affecting and connecting
Dax has been traveling a lot since last June. We are finally eating communities at the same time. So far people
all meals together as a family”. She also feels that e-learning is have kept their positive attitudes and have
not as effective as school and thinks that students will have a enjoyed the bonding during school closures.
difficult time catching up in the next grade. But we also sense that homeschooling can
only be a short-term solution.
MISSED OUT ON IMPORTANT EVENTS LIKE GRADUATIONS
AND BIRTHDAYS
For many, this was a crucial year when
kids moved from Kindergarten to middle
school or high school. Or it was their
final homecoming year. These are
special memories of each one of us and
the kids were looking forward to their
graduations. This really affected some
who were looking forward to all the
memories they would create with friends
and faculty in their final year graduation.
Nevertheless, the school management
and faculty have been very sensitive and
intuitive towards the children. There have

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