- Morgan Polk, Managing Editor
Teaching and Parenting in a Pandemic: Life of the Crawfords
During this pandemic, it is easy to forget that the world does not revolve around ourselves. Everyone is dealing with this crisis in different ways, suffering in different ways, and overcoming the challenges being thrown at them. Many of the students of Lakeside have either had or heard of the infamous Mr. and Mrs. Crawford. Both are teachers of social science classes and parents to their five-year-old kindergartener and 16-year-old junior.
Changes in Quarantine
Like many people, the Crawfords have found themselves sleeping in later and getting to work faster. “The commute is amazing, it’s like just down the hall,” Mr. Adam Crawford joked. Also like many, they are searching for ways to get alone time. Mr. Crawford described how Home Depot has become his spot, looking for things he can use for projects at home. Despite the need to get away occasionally, as parents, they found that they are more involved in the education of their kindergartener than they would have been if he were going to in-person school. They feel more aware of what is happening in his classes, playing an active role in his participation.
Going Back to School?
As a student, I have a love-hate relationship with the idea of going back to school. As both teachers and parents, the Crawfords want to go back as soon as possible, “except for the commute.” However, they reasonably have concerns about the safety of the teachers and students. How do we get kids to keep their masks on? What do you do when a kindergartener throws a fit over wearing a mask? Nonetheless, they miss the building and in-person instruction. “I miss my trailer and the noise, the silence is disconcerting,” Mrs. Jennifer Crawford said. Mr. Crawford on the other hand misses the hallways and the “hustle and bustle” of it all.
What were the Crawfords like as students?
To follow, I decided that it would be fun to discuss what kind of students they were in high school. When Mrs. Crawford described herself, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, that’s me.” She described herself as a “nerd that never skipped, always the first to turn work in.” Now, those of you who have had Mr. Crawford know the amount of work it takes to pass his class with an A. You will be shocked to hear that Mr. Crawford describes himself as a lazy student, having difficulty “remembering doing homework,” the student that everyone asks “how does he get A’s?” I wanted to know based on these answers how they might have felt or dealt with our current situation had it happened to them. Mrs. Crawford said she would have been “despondent” as the classroom was her happy place. Mr. Crawford was unsure of how he would have reacted to a pandemic. He concluded by saying he would have been “very sad,” as the classroom was his place to shine and speak his mind.
Parting Words of Advice
To wrap up, I asked the Crawfords if they had any advice for students or parents during this time. “Show up every day and ask questions, we love to feel connected,” Mrs. Crawford reflected. “We’ve encouraged our own 16 year old to meet up face-to-face with friends,” Mr. Crawford added that teenagers need interaction for proper development. “Don’t neglect social development… BE SAFE… but it will help you overall.”
For the parents, Mr. Crawford suggests that they should “ask [their] kids how their virtual day was. Don’t be a helicopter, but stay informed.” Mrs. Crawford’s advice was a short and simple encouragement, “You can do this.”