Making History: E-Learning and Pandemic Disease

In case you haven’t realized it yet, we are living through a historical event. The SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic of 2020 will be something your grandchildren will interview you about when they are in school. Nothing like this has happened before. There have been pandemics before, but not since the advent of the internet, not since global communication was instant. No one has ever tried to contain the spread of an illness with social distancing and quarantines with so large a population. No one has ever tried to rapidly convert our public education system so dramatically. We are making history.

Make no mistake, things will be very different from now on. The world has changed and is still changing. This disaster will likely last for many months, and will have an impact on our daily lives going forward. This will be very difficult. This will be a trial by fire. But like Mr. Rogers has said time and again: "look for the helpers. Whenever something terrible is happening, there are always good people helping. Look for the helpers."

Don't miss this. Pay attention to what is happening. I'm an adult with two children and I can't remember the last time politicians made statements on TV that directly and immediately affected my daily life. Be informed with good information. Check sources before you pass on a rumor on instagram or snapchat. Ask questions and find answers. Get help when you need it and most importantly, talk to each other. Talk to your family, be present both physically and emotionally. We all need to help each other now.

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