DOWN ON LONG-TERM DISTANCE LEARNING
The idea of local schools opt ing for prolonged distance-learning — as suggested by Gov. Doug Burgum and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) — didn’t sit well with faculty and some members of the
Washburn School Board at their Sept. 9 conference.
“I’m not disparaging the governor and the state superintendent. This is campaign talk at this point in time because they’re wanting to sell the idea of distance learning not only as a way through this pandemic, but as a way, you know, as a viable, long-term option,” charged Washburn Public School Superintendent Brad
Rinas.
While Rinas conceded that the remote learning may prove useful in educating pupils in the upper grades,
the school administrator balked at the thought of children in the fourth grade or below consistently receiving their instruction electronically in the comfort of their homes.
To that end, he argued limiting distance learning for K-4 elementary students to two-week blocks — unless advised otherwise by Burgum.
