There’s irony found in the phrase “distance learning” as many students around the world are doing anything but learning this school year. Showing up on little Google Meets squares counts as participation, handheld screens distract from larger screens, and sleep schedules … let’s not even get into that one!

In an attempt to keep students and teachers safe from COVID-19, effectual education has taken a backseat to our struggle to obtain normalcy. While the health and safety of students are undoubtedly most important, we have begun making progress toward normalcy and so we must consider what comes next.

With schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto recently giving the green light for all Department of Education (DOE) schools to reopen this fall, the community will witness that a return to in-person learning is a step in the right direction for everyone.

A return to in-person learning in the fall will help with the development of students as holistic individuals. We know that being in the classroom provides students with the best atmosphere to encourage learning and focus. Without it, KHON2 News reported, 26% of local high school seniors were off-track to graduate this year.

At home, students easily find themselves distracted by everything from YouTube to snacks. At school, teachers can more easily push students to learn without the barriers of a screen. Beyond course material though, students have needs as human beings; being in-person teaches them how to hold social interactions, think critically, and empathize with others. These skills just aren’t developed through distance learning where socializing, empathizing and even thinking seem optional as students can feel untouchable behind screens.

>> RELATED: Column: Pursue the many benefits of distance learning

For parents, a return to in-person learning thankfully means a return to regular schedules and less worrying about their children. The constant shuffle between distance and hybrid learning has made it difficult for families to operate on a consistent schedule. One survey found that 66% of parents say that their productivity at work has suffered due to juggling work and their kids. With the cost of child care rising by an estimated 47% during the pandemic, a return to in-person learning would alleviate some of the mental and monetary costs parents have paid this school year.

As a graduating senior myself, transitioning out of high school isn’t a very difficult reality to comprehend because it feels as if we didn’t have a senior year at all. Although there are valid health and safety factors to consider as we look toward the fall, distance learning has undoubtedly separated students from feeling connected to school and each other, and would not be an ideal option for students who are able to attend school.

As the Hawaii DOE searches for a new superintendent, our state would greatly benefit from someone who values student voice and acts most effectively and empathetically for the students, teachers and families that have worked so hard over the last year or so to maintain some sense of normalcy.

While distance learning has become, to many, an ironic phrase, there should be nothing ironic about learning in school.

Cora Lau is a Kalani High School student, Class of 2021.

“Raise Your Hand,” a monthly column featuring Hawaii’s youth and their perspectives, appears in the Insight section on the first Sunday of each month. It is facilitated by the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders.