Living in a one-bedroom apartment, Diana Martínez and her five kids are strugglying with virtual learning. Low-income families are facing more adversity with remote schooling.
By KARINA GUTIÉRREZ
EL NUEVO SOL
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the lives of everyone, and the use of mask and social distancing has become the new normal. Schools have been closed since March, 2019, and remains a concern for the spread of the virus. While some school have decided to open, LAUSD schools still remain closed. This becomes a struggle for low-income families.
Living in a one-bedroom apartment, Diana Martínez has five kids with the oldest being in sixth grade and the youngest in head start, she also has a one-year old to take care of. Her experience with online learning is a challenge for her and her kids.
“It’s complicated having the kids at home because they ask for help, and I can’t give them the help they require,” Martínez said. “They need a lot of space too, so they can do their homework, and with a lot of kids they have to share their school supplies. They sometimes have to share the computers and space. It’s difficult for them.”
When it comes to low-income families, it is difficult to accommodate kids in a quiet environment when they are confined to space, making it more difficult for them to focus. Two of her daughter’s sit at the dining room table, while the other one sits at the sofa. Diana says she gives more of her attention to her two littles one’s who require more help than her two older daughter’s. The Wi-Fi is also a problem for her because when all four of her kids are connected it becomes unstable. While making sure her kids pay attention in class, she has to cook and clean while still taking care of her one-year old daughter.
Though Diana struggles to maintain structure and quietness, other parents face different challenges. Yeimy Goday has two kids, one of whom started kindergarten, and her son who moved up to the sixth grade. She and her husband still work and feel fortunate to still have a job in this pandemic. She leaves her youngest daughter with her neighbor as she goes to work, and her oldest son stays home. Yeimy’s daughter requires more attention, but realizes that her neighbor can’t just sit next to her daughter for the entire class, and this is why she’s trying to be in constant communication with the teacher even though the language barrier can be difficult.
“Having virtual learning is difficult and double the work for me, “Goday said. “I come home from work at four and have to cook and clean my house. At 7 o’clock in the evening, I start doing homework with Sofia. There are times when it is 9 o’clock at night and I am still helping Sofia, and we are both tired. I take a while with her because I’m going over with her the material the teacher taught so she doesn’t fall behind.”
Knowing that it’s hard to hold and find a job during this time, and her husband doesn’t make much, Yeimy has been thinking about quitting her job. She’s never had any trouble with her oldest son when it comes to school, but his grades have dropped, and as her son explains it to her, “virtual learning is difficult.” This week, she received news about one of her son’s classmates who committed suicide and she realized that virtual learning has not only been hard on her, but for her kids too.
As Coronavirus cases are soaring, the re-opening of LAUSD schools remains uncertain. Adapting to online learning has been difficult for parents, students and teachers, but low-income families are facing more adversity. Not only is the problem finding a quiet place, the language barrier and school supplies, but some families cannot provide their children with three meals a day, and some do not have access to a secure Wi-Fi.
Tags: COVID-19 Diana Martínez stay-at-home mom virtual learning
