Perspectives — Navigating the Post-COVID Education Landscape
By Jim Wambach | August 22, 2023
A Call for Support in Oakland’s Elementary Schools
“It is not more bigness that should be our goal. We must attempt, rather, to bring people back to the warmth of community, to the worth of individual effort and responsibility, and of individuals working together as a community, to better their lives and their children’s future.” – Robert F. Kennedy
Your support of summer tutoring empowers eager children to overcome COVID-related learning loss and rise to their God-given potential.
The world has changed significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, and unprecedented challenges remain. As the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to the global Public Health Emergency of COVID-19, we must acknowledge that the impact on children, parents, and educators lingers, particularly in elementary public schools serving the poorest neighborhoods of Oakland.
The effects have been profound
Many children find themselves significantly behind, performing at pre-kindergarten or kindergarten levels when they should be in second or third grade. Learning challenges have become more prevalent, exacerbated by chronic absenteeism, reduced self-confidence, and growing levels of frustration and discouragement.
Will you complete HER Circle of Care?
Through one-on-one reading and math tutoring, and family support, you will nurture an eager child in a circle of care so they may succeed in school.
Will you complete HER Circle of Care?
Through one-on-one reading and math tutoring, and family support, you will nurture an eager child in a circle of care so they may succeed in school.
Parents, too, are struggling. Unaware of the extent of their children’s learning gaps, they desperately seek ways to support their children’s education. Sadly, many fear for their children’s future.
Meanwhile, educators bear a tremendous burden of teaching advanced material to underprepared students. They struggle to teach second and third-grade material to students who are not academically prepared. They are doing their best to bridge the gaps and uplift their students, but they need more support than ever before.
Addressing the challenges our students face
Children Rising has always been high-touch, focusing on building strong connections with students, families, and educators. It’s crucial to intensify our efforts. We have implemented various program enhancements, including more weekly tutoring, homework tutoring, family coaching, and summer tutoring.
One-on-one tutors enable children to recover from unfinished learning.
We can’t do it alone. The time is now for the community to unite and support our children, families, and educators. We must act promptly to put the academic side effects of the pandemic behind us, building renewed hope and optimism in the children and their parents.
Join us in coming alongside our precious neighborhood children by volunteering or making a financial contribution. Together, we will create a brighter future for the children of Oakland, ensuring they have a fair opportunity to succeed in school … and in life. Let’s act today for a stronger, more prosperous Oakland.
