Cartoon about e-schooling

E-SCHOOLING[pic 1]

Corrigé :

This cartoon drawn by the American cartoonist Signe Wilkinson deals with the issue of distance learning.

It shows three different situations of learning.                         .

On the left, there are three young children and one teacher all wearing masks in a classroom.

In the middle, we can see a young pupil at a desk, she is taking an online course under the supervision of an adult. She seems to be used to working on a computer and very eager to learn.

On the right , there is a black child sitting at a table in a dirty and messy house. Outside the window, we can see bullets flying in the air, it could / must be located in a poor dangerous neighbourhood.

The child has no adult to help him with his distance classes. There is a note left by his mother who works in shifts. She may work in a factory and earn a low salary. He doesn’t seem to be familiar with computers because he is struggling to write with only one finger. Learning online is virtually impossible for this child.

The cartoon pictures distance learning as an unequal way to learn while the children are more equal when they study in a classroom under the supervision of a teacher. This cartoon shows the reality of distance learning for rich and poor children. It also denounces the fact that distance education is likely to widen the gap between rich and poor children and as a consequence, it will increase social inequalities, especially between black and white children.

EXTRA VOCABULARY:

Equipments / devices

Derelict / neglected / dilapidated

To be on an equal footing

To widen the gap / create a  wider gap between … and …

Working in shifts : in a factory … / low paid jobs / working in the evening, early in the morning or at night

Poor environment / neighbourhood

Computer literate / sb who knows enough to be able to use a computer

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