WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) –A peaceful protest was held Saturday in Wausau’s 400 block against the school district’s recent decision to begin classes virtually this September.
Dozens gathered, held signs, and waved American flags while calling on the district to reconsider the move. That included one student who said there’s no substitute for in-person learning.
Taylor Dykstra told WAOW TV “you can’t really feel anything through a screen. I get that germs can’t spread through a screen, but you also can’t feel the love and support [of teachers.]”
She adds that it becomes frustrating when technology gets in the way of learning, such as when assignments don’t upload properly or teachers don’t know how to work their devices.
The Wausau School Board does have a discussion about their 2020-’21 on Monday’s agenda. However, according to the posted agenda packet, it does not appear they will budge from their current plans to begin the year virtually. Packet materials show leaders will begin to formulate the benchmarks that need to be met for students to return to the classroom and how long before full in-person learning can resume.
District leaders have been discussing what they call Project Restart since early June. Superintendent Keith Hilts has long said that it’s likely the school will use all three of the proposals they’ve outlined- full virtual learning, full in-person learning, and an alternating virtual and in-person learning schedule- at one time or another this year.
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