Negative Impacts of Online Education During the Pandemic: A Closer Look

The pandemic has forced schools and educational institutions to shift to online education, presenting both challenges and opportunities. Let’s delve into the negative effects of this shift, especially for students during the period from 2020 onwards.

Loss of Access to Free Nutrition

One significant downside of the transition to online learning is the loss of access to free breakfasts and lunches. This is a substantial challenge for low-income students who rely on these meals to ensure they have proper nutrition and energy for their studies. In my local school district, for example, many schools closed down in 2020, and while they eventually reopened in the fall of 2021, the shift disrupted the routine for many students.

During the shutdowns, my four children and other students lost access to these free meals. While my family has enough food at home to ensure we eat well, we are more privileged than many people in our neighborhood. I often share our garden’s bounty, such as peaches, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and even a few vegetables in the summer, with neighborhood kids who could use some help. However, school food is not always the most exciting, but it is essential for ensuring that students do not go hungry during weekdays.

Library Access and Media Resources

Another unintended consequence of moving to online education is the loss of access to the school library. For some students, the library is the easiest way to borrow books and other educational media. Unfortunately, not everyone in our school district is within walking or biking distance to a public library. Even those who are can face barriers such as the need to take a city bus, something that became less feasible during the pandemic due to reduced bus capacity for social distancing.

Public libraries remain crucial for students who rely on them for resources that are not available at home. The reduced accessibility during the pandemic has further exacerbated the digital divide, making it even more challenging for students from low-income families to access educational materials.

Therapy and Individualized Educational Plans

For students with individualized education plans (IEPs) and those on the autistic spectrum, the shift to online education has posed significant difficulties. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, and developmental therapy are essential components of these plans, and their disruption has had lasting impacts.

During the pandemic, my children’s speech therapy sessions, which were part of their IEPs, were suspended for an extended period. When schools reopened, the therapy resumed, but not without a significant catch-up period. Similarly, other children in the district struggled to keep up during this time.

Academic Impact and Refusal to Advanced

Despite the best efforts of teachers, the abrupt shift to online education has adversely affected academic progress. Many students, including my youngest, found it challenging to adapt to the new learning environment, leading to significant gaps in knowledge.

Academic performance took a hit, with some students requiring additional help to catch up. In my case, my youngest daughter was even discussed for holding back a grade. Fortunately, the teachers decided to let her continue her studies, but many of her peers were not as fortunate. This speaks to the broader issue of academic stagnation during the pandemic.

Safe Havens for Vulnerable Students

For countless students, school is a safe haven, especially those living in abusive or stressful home environments. School provides a structured and secure environment that many at-risk students need. When schools closed, these students lost a critical support system.

For some, school is the only place they feel safe, and suddenly, that refuge was unavailable. This underscores the holistic impact of the pandemic on vulnerable populations, highlighting the need for comprehensive support systems that extend beyond academic resumption.