The Greater Essex County District School Board is considering the implementation  a hybrid learning model for the 2021 - 2022 school year.  This means that a classroom will consist of in-person learners as well as students learning at home. 

A teacher will be responsible for both groups at the same time, with live streaming to the at-home group done through a camera set up at the front of the room. 

The hybrid model is an ineffective method of teaching.  It fails to engage all students as active participants in their learning. As the teachers need to be seen on the camera, they will be unable to circulate and assist, to reference materials around the room, to collaborate with the students in small groups or one-on-one, making the lessons far less engaging than they should be.

As well, the past two school years have led to large gaps in student learning.  The need to differentiate for students will be even greater than it has been in the past. This will be very difficult to address with a class attempting to learn on two completely different platforms. 

The hybrid model of learning is not a viable, sustainable solution for our students in Greater Essex. We need a solid, reliable re-entry plan that all of our parents, students and staff can get behind, and the hybrid model is not it. 

We, the undersigned, call on the GECDSB to reject the proposal to move towards a hybrid learning model for the 2021-2022 school year.