Dr. Katrina Bulkley Discusses Learning Pods for Montclair Local

Dr. Katy Bulkley, Professor and Chairperson of the Educational Leadership Department, discussed the formation of Learning Pods for the start of the 2020-2021 school year as many districts, including the New Jersey township of Montclair, switch to full virtual learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Bulkley noted that what the pods look like could vary depending on the families’ circumstances. Some will have parents who rotate their homes and their time to teach the pod, others will hire part-time teachers or tutors to supplement the online learning, while still others will hire full-time teachers who recently retired or individuals who are preparing to be teachers.

Additionally, she pointed out advantages within some pods such as higher income, one stay-at-home parent or parents who work from home, good technology, and larger homes that can host a classroom.

The other issue is that pods will not likely reflect the socioeconomic and racial diversity of Montclair, said Dr. Bulkley, who specializes in education equity and school choice. And in a district where the achievement gap has been at issue, she stated that the gap would likely widen.

“Research shows that when families make choices they choose families like them. People are more trusting of families similar to theirs. Where the district, although not perfect, has made a commitment to integrate all students, the pod system has the potential to resegregate,” said Dr. Bulkley, who is a Montclair resident with children in high school and middle school, both of whom will be going back to school come fall.

“The pandemic shined a brighter light on the inequities in education. The pods will further exacerbate those inequities,” she said.

In a perfect world, Dr. Bulkley said, she would like to see the district partner with churches and community-based organizations that could offer the pod education option to families with two working parents who can’t afford to hire a teacher to oversee a pod.

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