Class Sizes Increase as Sophomores and Freshmen are Able to Attend Full Time
By Autumn Garrett March 8 2021
With almost three-quarters of this strange year completed, "normality" in the classrooms and hallways of William Chrisman has returned on some level. The single digit class sizes of August, now replaced by 15-20 students in many classrooms by March.
Students in all high school grade levels that want to attend school full time have now received the opportunity to do so. Sophomores returned February 8, while freshmen came back full time on March 1. “It feels super fast, but being a mostly freshmen teacher, kids have been asking to be full time since September. They have been ready for their chance to be in the building full time,” said career connections teacher, Chelsi Mawhirter. |
The return of roughly 270 sophomores and freshmen made it a challenge for some at Chrisman to follow guidelines set to keep social distancing. But as circumstances changed, administrators in the district modified the guidelines they asked students and staff to follow. The six feet of social distancing requested during first semester became three feet as the underclassmen started returning more regularly in greater numbers.
District officials have repeatedly said they are just following the guidance of health experts when they make pandemic-related decisions. Current guidelines from the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] state that social distancing should remain at six feet whenever possible. Guidelines from Children’s Mercy only make exemptions for three feet if the six feet rule is impossible. |
The district first mentioned decreased distancing in an October email about juniors returning full-time, saying "the gradual return of students may mean some classroom spacing will be 3-6 feet". The district has also warned of increased risk of exposure, and acknowledged the number of people quarantined may rise with class sizes increasing.
When asked to clarify which guidelines they were following when deciding to bring back both sophomores and freshmen, the district public relations department referred us to the email sent out to parents and staff that said, in part, "We will continue to follow the recommendation of the CDC, Children's Mercy and other health professionals, with classroom spacing between students remaining at least 3 feet".
Nonetheless, some teachers say following any of the guidelines poses a difficulty with so many students coming back. “It is getting more and more challenging, as there are a lot of teachers who do not feel comfortable with more students. To go along with that, many classrooms do not have enough space to properly social distance. I hope it goes well, but I am very concerned that it may bring more cases at first,” said art teacher Jeanne Smith. |
The freshmen returned seemingly faster than most of the other grades had previously. Snow days meant only four school days passed between the sophomores' return and the announcement about freshmen (table below).
In the emails to parents and staff, the district has said it has "been carefully scaffolding the return of additional in-person students". Envoy did not receive a reply when we asked the district to explain what data helped administrators make the decision to bring back freshmen after a shorter number of school days.
The increase in full-time students also meant more work for teachers.
“New seating charts every two weeks, and at the beginning of the semester the classrooms are a revolving door,” Smith continued.
The increase in full-time students also meant more work for teachers.
“New seating charts every two weeks, and at the beginning of the semester the classrooms are a revolving door,” Smith continued.
Despite the added challenge, teachers do see the importance of the students returning to school full time.
“This does present some challenges, but it is also, from an academic standpoint, the best way that we know of as educators to help get struggling students back on track to finish the year strong. We could not have put that off to a later time,” says Spanish teacher, Jessica Niehues. The students coming back also notice the normality in the classrooms as they start to see friends from previously opposite weeks. “Students will be able to fit in the classroom with three feet between them without a problem. I am expecting the biggest issue will be on the social aspect. It has been a long time since the freshmen have been together in a classroom of more than 10-14 students,” said social studies teacher, John Straub. |
The added bodies required extra work from counselors as well. To reduce the number of students in some classrooms, some schedules had to be changed.
All told, some teachers wished more precaution were more present before returning so many students in a relatively short timeframe.
“I wish they would wait for teachers to be vaccinated or at least have the option to be vaccinated before they made this decision. Other districts have waited until teachers are fully vaccinated before letting all students back. Some of my classes are going to be very crowded and social distancing is going to be near impossible to do,” said an electives teacher at Chrisman who wished to remain anonymous in fear of repercussions.
Following the sophomores and freshmen coming back to Chrisman full time, teachers and students are both in for challenges with so many students choosing to return full time to the classroom.
All told, some teachers wished more precaution were more present before returning so many students in a relatively short timeframe.
“I wish they would wait for teachers to be vaccinated or at least have the option to be vaccinated before they made this decision. Other districts have waited until teachers are fully vaccinated before letting all students back. Some of my classes are going to be very crowded and social distancing is going to be near impossible to do,” said an electives teacher at Chrisman who wished to remain anonymous in fear of repercussions.
Following the sophomores and freshmen coming back to Chrisman full time, teachers and students are both in for challenges with so many students choosing to return full time to the classroom.