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I am writing to express concerns about our district's implementation of Flexible Instruction Days (FIDs). As both a parent and community member, I believe this policy requires immediate review due to its impact on educational quality and equity.
The current FID structure significantly compromises the quality of education our children receive. Assignments often lack meaningful engagement between teachers and students, reducing complex learning objectives to simplified worksheets and independent tasks. This stands in stark contrast to the rich, interactive learning environment of a traditional classroom setting.
More troubling is how FIDs exacerbate existing educational inequities in our community. Students without reliable internet access or adequate devices face substantial disadvantages, creating a two-tiered system that favors families with greater resources. This runs counter to the fundamental principle of equal access to education that our public school system should uphold.
We are no longer in the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic that initially necessitated remote learning measures. Traditional snow days with scheduled make-up time during planned breaks or at year's end would better serve our educational goals. This approach ensures that all students receive the same quality of instruction and maintains the educational standards our district strives to achieve.
I urge our Blair County school boards to consider:
– Returning to traditional snow days with scheduled make-up dates
– If FIDs must continue, investing in solutions to ensure equal access and quality instruction
– Developing more robust systems for meaningful teacher-student interaction during remote learning
Ben Wright
Duncansville