LYNNFIELD — Powerful.
That’s how Lynnfield Superintendent of Schools Kristen Vogel described the message delivered by students concerning whether or not they should have their cameras on during remote Zoom classes.
The issue? A growing number of students at the high school and middle school are turning off their computer’s cameras during remote-learning sessions, and whether or not the district should require students to keep them turned on.
“The voices of the students during the discussion were powerful,” said Vogel. “They were clear about their belief that students should be able to choose whether or not to have their cameras on during Zoom class for reasons of equity and the social and emotional well-being of the students.
“We recognize that it is exhausting and disheartening to be teaching to a mostly black screen.”
Student Council President Ava O’Brien got the discussion going early at a recent school committee meeting, addressing the issue in her council report.
“I know that many students and parents are discouraged by the hybrid schedule currently in place,” she said. “I speak for many students who feel that students should not be forced to turn their cameras on during Zoom classes as it is a personal choice.
“Many people have different learning setups and are uncomfortable learning at home anyway. Forcing students to have their cameras on can create anxiety.”
Middle School Assistant Principal Thomas Sallee said the effect blank screens are having on teachers is “terrible.”
“It’s hard enough that they don’t have students in front of them, but it’s draining,” he said. “That same week there were teachers in tears as it was so frustrating. They would love to see cameras on. The correlation between students with their camera on and their achievement level is that, at the middle school, those kids are doing better. Teachers are doing their best to incentivize students to turn them on, but what happens is a few drop off and it’s contagious. You don’t want to be the last one standing. That’s just suicide. It’s scary as there is a lot of pressure from peers to turn the cameras off.”
In response to a request from committee chair Jamie Hayman to hear what the students think (and if there is a different level of engagement when cameras are turned off), O’Brien said there are other ways to get engaged without a camera being on.
“Things like the chat feature, we can still do that, so there are other ways for students to get and stay engaged,” she said. “Forcing students to put their cameras on is more like reprimanding them rather than giving them a choice.”
Sophomore Genna Gioloso said she agrees that the decision to turn off cameras is personal.
“I personally don’t mind putting my camera on but I don’t know everyone’s situation, so I think it should be a choice.”
Committee member Phil McQueen compared being on screen during Zoom classes to being in front of a class for 45 minutes.
“People are staring at you and that’s not a comfortable feeling particularly at the higher levels,” he said. “It’s a much more complicated issue.”
Lynnfield High Assistant Principal Brian Bates agreed.
“Kids aren’t comfortable seeing themselves on camera. It’s really a social and emotional situation,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean they aren’t paying attention.”
Committee member Rich Sjoberg said he believes “teachers know how engaged students are and if they are participating (and) we should listen to the students’ voices.”
Fellow committee member Tim Doyle questioned if the district is doing students a disservice by not mandating that cameras be turned on, in terms of being prepared for college or work situations.
“You cannot draw those analogies. We are talking about children,” said Lynnfield High Principal Bob Cleary. “Forcing them is not preparing them for anything. There is a big difference between a business meeting for your job and expecting the same from the 12, 13, 14-year-olds. Tim’s point is a good one as we want them to be prepared, but that’s apples and oranges.”
“We are challenging them as it is and, obviously, we want cameras on, but we can’t mandate it,” said Bates.
Director of Teaching and Learning Kevin Cyr said his primary concern is with heightened anxiety levels in students, but he is also concerned about equity issues.
“Families are conscious about what we see in the backgrounds of their homes when cameras are on,” he said. “I’ve talked to students about the consequences of not having cameras on, but how do we enforce that?”