Distance learning takes toll on teachers as well as students

By Andrianna Bynum, Junior, North High

Distance learning doesn’t just affect the students, it also affects the teachers. 

This year, with COVID-19 seemingly putting a stop to everything, teachers continue to teach, though not in the ways in which they were accustomed. Distance learning isn’t the best idea for many people, but seems like this is the only option when it comes to keeping everyone safe and stopping the spread of the virus. For one North High teacher, his method of teaching has been impacted, but not his love for teaching … or for his students.

Tom Lachermeier is a teacher at North High School. He’s been at North for nine years now, but Lachermeier has taught at different schools in the Minneapolis community. Lachermeier wanted to teach in the community where he lives ... North is his home. He and his wife have lived in North Minneapolis for more than 17 years, which is where he decided to raise his kids. 

Though he’s in the building of North High, Tom Lachermeier’s students are not. Lachermeier teaches his AP U.S. history class through the computer while students join in from their homes. Photo by Sam Wilbur

“Our friends and community are here,” said Lachermeier, who seems to love the community in which he works and lives. “I love living in North Minneapolis. I love that almost wherever you go you see people you know. People really look out for each other. We have a great cross-section of people from so many different experiences and backgrounds that really make North Minneapolis a unique and special place. I can’t think of a place I would rather live than where I do right now.”

This year has been a tough year with distance learning. It has made a lot of changes to the students' school lives and teacher’s lives as well.

“I am really proud of the students in my classes. The majority of them are showing up, participating, learning and improving their skills,” said the North High history teacher. “I do really miss being in the same room with them. I would never choose distance learning over being in person, but I think we are all making the best out our current reality. I really hope I get to be in person with my brilliant students at some point in the future when it would be safe for all of us.” 

This year, working online is hard for many students without the personal support they need, and that is a challenge for the teachers as well. 

“My low of being a teacher during the pandemic is just not being able to see my students in person. It is difficult to read the virtual room and adjust your teaching through Google Meets, but I think we are all getting better,” said Lachermeier.

Even though the students can't learn in person, Lachermeier goes to the school every morning to teach his classes on a virtual call in the classroom he would have been teaching his students. He has two kids of his own that do distance learning at home and his wife works from home as well. 

“They also miss going to school and learning with their classmates,” said Lachermeier. 

The teacher and father said he would love to be in the school building with his students, but right now he can only do so much. 

“I am just really trying to take things one day at a time and be thankful for all of God’s blessings in spite of the pandemic,” said Lachermeier. “I honestly just wish COVID-19 would go aways so students could enjoy being together at school and extracurricular activities. I wish there were more safe opportunities for students to be able to safely be with adults and friends who care about them.”