PHX Reporter

Mary Bilsborough is a retired school teacher, a grandmother, and no fan of online schooling.

“Our granddaughters right now are doing the virtual model,” Bilsborough, a resident of Phoenix, told PHX Reporter. “We don’t see that it’s very effective.”

One her criticisms is that it’s not user friendly, “Especially for grandparents,” she said.

 She believes the children are missing out with online learning.

“They need to be in a classroom,” Bilsborough said. 

Arizona public schools opened in August under an order from Gov. Doug Ducey, but most of them "offered the minimum level of in-person options the state allowed," Arizona Central reported. 

"Priority was given to students with disabilities, English-language learners, students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, children in foster care, students without reliable access to technology and students whose parents are essential workers," the story said.

The on-site programs aren't traditional classroom setups.

"The support is intended  to provide students with a space to study, a reliable internet  connection to access their virtual classes, and adult supervision during  normal school hours. The programs are expected to continue until schools reopen for in-person learning," Arizona Central said. 

Students are missing out on more than just the academics, Bilsborough said. “They also need the social well-being,” she said. 

Teachers are trying to do the best they can they “but it’s pretty watered down,” Bilsborough believes. “I don’t see that there is any assessment going on. I don’t see there is any grouping according to their test scores, things like that.”

She blames the media for “putting in the fear factor” in the decisions over whether to resume in person schooling.

“They need to back off and let the experts on education make those important decisions, not all these the news people getting involved.”

The message that COVID-19 is worse than the flu is “a big lie” she said.

“It’s all politics and if people don’t know that, I think they have their head in the sand,” she said.

The Catholic School at her church is slowly resuming in-person instruction.

“It’s baby steps but at least they want to get them off computers,” Bilsborough told PHX Reporter.

She would favor giving tax refunds if in-person school does not resume. That would give parents a choice to enroll in private schools or to home school their children.

Most importantly, when making decisions on schools, leaders need to focus on what children need, not what they need.

“They need to talk to families, they need to get communication going and not just sit in their ivory towers,” Bilsborough said.