To the editor:
As I write this letter, my son tells me about tectonic plates and how they move underneath us. YouTube videos are a part of how our kids learn, and he’s been able to do that, because we have high speed internet at home.
Other folks aren’t so lucky. I have known for some time that some students do not have access to reliable high-speed internet at home. It could be spotty dial-up in rural areas or simply the fact that they cannot keep up with their payments due to unforeseeable circumstances like losing a job or having a bad roommate.
In the best of times, at least one student of mine lost internet access during a semester for one of the above reasons. And now, in these uncertain times that we live under, these students cannot even find alternative ways to learn online, causing many students to be left behind.
Several teachers have come forward expressing their worry for their most vulnerable students. E-learning requires high-speed internet connections to complete homework assignments, and many students cannot complete their assignments, because they don’t have access to high-speed internet.
COVID-19 has reared its ugly head, and it has become close to impossible for some students to continue learning. We aren’t sure how long this pandemic could last, but one thing is clear: We have to recalibrate the state’s education formula to prioritize both better pay for our educators and universal e-learning access for our students. Our state’s future depends on it.
Theresa Bruno
Indianapolis
Theresa Bruno, an educator, is running as a Democrat for state Senate in District 28
