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1/ I am a university professor. I teach undergraduates who have been isolated at home and taking classes "remotely" for 3 weeks. Here are some things that have happened during that time.
2/ A student texted me to talk in the middle of the night because they are on campus, not at home (still allowed at my uni for those who can't return), their dad is sick, no one is answering the phone, and they were panicking that their parent had died.
3/ A student joined my Webex office hours and, mid-conversation, told me that "by the time you become a sr. in college, you really start to recognize what's important in life," and shared with me that COVID concerns had resulted in him reconnecting with his estranged brother.
4/ A student wrote me to say that she was worried about the paper coming up (on a book we've read the past 3 weeks), because turns out she can't afford the text. And her mom just got laid off. And she's concerned about ordering anything even cheaply because she doesn't want to...
5/ ...put warehouse and delivery staff at risk. She had been doing all the homework. Her friend from class, in a different state, had been calling her daily to explain the readings to her over the phone. I bought and shipped her a new copy.
6/ Note, her friend, another student in this class (let's call them Grian), has been calling her EVERY DAY to explain the reading to her. We're reading a book-length ethnography--complex stuff, non-linear stuff. I think maybe Grian is the most kind and loving person in the world
7/ One of my students has been experiencing disruptive mental health issues for the past year. They are not responding to any form of communication. We used to talk every day. I haven't heard from them in three weeks.
8/ A student emailed me with profuse apologies for late classwork, explaining that both of their grandparents had just died.
9/ Another student emailed me with profuse apologies for late classwork, explaining that their *father* had just died.
10/ I reached out to a student who had been logging into our course site but hadn't turned in any work for 3 weeks, to ask how she's doing. She is an EMT-B and was a *champ* in our in-class naloxone training last month. Easily best student in the class so this behavior was weird.
11/ She wrote back to tell me that today was the first day in the last 16 that she hasn't worked a full shift at the ER, where things have gone off the rails since COVID-19 infection spiked in our region.
12/ She is a health care professional busting her ass during this time of crisis. She is 19 years old. She is a baby. She is doing enormous and hugely necessary things. She told me she misses our class and that seminar was always the highlight of her week.
13/ She opened and closed her email with profuse apologies for her late classwork.
14/ I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you teach and have been struggling with the decision of whether to let your students off the hook, or give them flexibility, or give them time, or give them anything, I hereby grant you full and enthusiastic permission to do so.
15/ I *do* know who needs to hear this: If you teach and you are being a hard ass right now because you think your students are being lazy and have a bunch of free time on their hands while at home, you are trash, and no one likes you.
16/ Our young students are weird, anxious, confounding, beautiful, resilient little creatures. They are a blessing. Don't take them for granted.
postscript (17/): three cheers and a thousand huzzahs for all you folks out there who are living in these weird times and reveling in new ways to show the people around you, whoever they may be, that they are loved.
Postpostscript (18/) I have been overwhelmed with offers of financial support for my students today.Thank you for your kindness!! For now, we are in good shape. But local food pantried across the US are not! If you have help to give, food pantries need your money BADLY.
