AMNA NAWAZ: As schools across the country reopen, parents and educators are debating the relative merits of at-home and in-class learning. But what do students think? Our Student Reporting Labs program teamed up with Detroit Public Television for a series of video diaries to document this very unusual school year as it unfolds. Here now are the students in their own words.
RAVEN PEOPLES, Student: The start of school is going to be very chaotic, just because no one really knows what's going on.
GUADALUPE AVALOS, Student: Detroit Public Schools is having students take a survey about whether they want to take in-person learning or virtual learning. I chose online learning because I thought it was the safest.
MACKENZIE BISDORF, Student: I'm a little sad that we're going to start online. And I just think the thought of doing things online in my own room by myself, it's a very isolating feeling.
ELLIOT CORBIN, Student: For me, I'm going to be going into school. I'm a little bit nervous, but I'm also excited too, like, get back to school, because it's been a really long time since I have actually physically been in school.
RASIAH WORTHY, Student: Everything is still online, but you can go to the school, which I need because, if I'm at home, I just feel like I will go to sleep, or I won't take it as seriously as I should.
EMILY BIRNBAUM, Student: When you go into a public building, you don't know where these people have been. You don't know what they have been touching. You don't know who they have been around. And there's just no way that you can say, yes, I'm completely clean and free of the virus. So, I think that going online is the best course of action right now, given the state of the pandemic.
ABBEY LENEWAY, Student: It's going to be weird the way teachers have to teach, as some of their students are going to be online. Some of them are going to meet face to face.
ANGELNAE RANDALLE, Student: But I am kind of sad and skeptical about how this is going to work. I'm not really going to get that senior experience, you know, the senior sunset, homecoming, our football games in the beginning of the year. I think it's going to be really hard for me.
GUADALUPE AVALOS: What I'm most worried about isn't me. It's my younger siblings. I have a very hyperactive 8-year-old brother and a 10-year-old brother with learning disabilities. I know they probably won't be able to sit in front of a computer for eight hours.
EMILY BIRNBAUM: What are exams or just basic tests going to look like? Also, the fact that I have yet to take the SAT.
RAVEN PEOPLES: I'm preparing for school by just keeping myself educated on the state of our country right now, which is very disappointing.
ABBEY LENEWAY: I have been riding my bike around the neighborhood a lot. It helps me clear my mind. Same thing with roller skating. Drawing and playing the guitar are two of my biggest stress relievers, especially if I'm feeling really, like, just down and under the weather.
MACKENZIE BISDORF: This year is just going to be really different. And it's going to be a lot to get used to. But I think, once we start and once the first week or two goes by, I think everybody will feel a lot more comfortable.
RAVEN PEOPLES: I will have more time during my break to do my homework. So, I feel like that's a huge advantage.
GUADALUPE AVALOS: I also don't have to eat school lunch everyday anymore.
ANGELNAE RANDALLE: I'm going to honestly just work as hard as I can online and look for upcoming colleges, and just try my best, so...
RASIAH WORTHY: We will see how it goes September 8. I'm ready. I'm going to treat it like any regular school day. And I hope it's the best year yet.