On November 30th, in response to Farmington High School’s overwhelming amount of quarantined students, a new hybrid schedule was introduced. This “hybrid” way of learning split the high school up into two groups: Swords and Shields. (Since FHS’s mascot is the Black Knight, swords and shields represent what it would yield). Swords have in-person learning on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while Shields have it on Wednesdays and Fridays. On Mondays, the entire student body learns from home. On the other hand, the teachers of FHS are in the high school every day of the week, broadcasting their online lessons, teaching their pupils in person, and answering countless questions from students in the building and at home. This unique and uncharted way of educating students has been declared to last up till Christmas break starts on December 23rd, in hopes that after the holidays traditional learning can resume.

Of course, nothing is perfect. Despite how optimal this new setup may sound, it comes with its complications. Foremostly, it is up to each individual student to stay on top of their work on AMI-X (virtual) days. Unlike the spring, slacking off is not accepted. What’s more, this new system makes it much more difficult for clubs and other organizations to meet. Adversely, it may help sports teams since the chances of becoming quarantined are much lower. However, sleep schedules are now thrown off, confusion is highly prevalent, and student motivation may be beginning to dwindle.

Griffin Phillips, a sophomore at FHS, said that he doesn’t like hybrid because it gets him out of his routine. He said that if FHS had practiced hybrid education from the start of the school year, he maybe would have liked it better because he possibly could have been placed with more of his friends. “I find it super hard to find motivation,” Phillips noted. He thinks hybrid will continue into next semester but slowly get better.

McKennah Wallace, a junior at FHS, said: “I don’t like hybrid learning because I have a hard time focusing on my work and I procrastinate some of my assignments.” She said she wishes the school wouldn’t have resorted to hybrid learning at all. She remarked that the hybrid schedule has caused her to lack motivation. “I am frustrated with myself because I don’t have the energy to do my work,” Wallace stated. She thinks hybrid will continue into next semester because it doesn’t seem that COVID is going to let up soon. “If we go hybrid again I would be sad because I love seeing my friends at school and I like having a routine.”

Ellie Hinson, another junior, was very opinionated on the topic of hybrid education. She said she isn’t a big fan of it because she doesn’t end up doing her work on days she is at home. “I wish they never did it in the first place,” Hinson explained, “but I understand because COVID would have gotten worse.” She said the new hybrid schedule makes her not have the motivation to do her work anymore. She said that she doesn’t think hybrid will continue into next semester, but if it does, she won’t be happy.

Without a doubt, it can be known hybrid learning is not a favorite among students. It is everyone’s hope traditional education can continue at the start of 2021; however, the future is always uncertain. As all of FHS looks forward to the holiday break, it is everyone’s wish this second semester can resemble some sort of normalcy and result in a rejuvenation of student motivation.