Isaac has been a member of PPTC since 2016 and is one of the increasing number of ultrarunners in the club.

Because he was vehemently opposed to New York City public schools staying open long after non-essential workers were told to work from home, he pulled his children from school before in-person schooling ended and remote learning began.

How many children do you have and what are their ages?

Two: Leah, age 13, and Asher, age 15.

If you are currently employed, what is your occupation and are you currently working from home?

I oversee product for Hearst Newspapers Digital, and I am working from home.

What has it been like for you and your children since remote learning started?

Because my kids are older — and they’re pretty good with schoolwork — I don’t need to be involved in their day-to-day remote learning. At dinner, my wife and I ask them what they did. Occasionally, one of them has a technical question (e.g. how to create and upload a PDF), and occasionally someone needs me to edit a written assignment.

What has pleasantly surprised you about remote learning and being quarantined with your children?

Pleasantly surprised? Nothing. Glass is definitely half empty!

“At first, I thought that the ability to sleep late and the added need for a de-stresser would be a boon to my running. Turns out that stress and anxiety outweigh those benefits, and my running has suffered. ”

What is your biggest complaint about remote learning?

They’re accomplishing less than they would had they been physically in school.
Because they’re older, most of their work is asynchronous (not many Zoom classes). They miss out on the learning that happens naturally through group conversation.
They are missing the social aspect of school. That’s important at any age, but critical during middle school and high school.
Some teachers have completely checked out. One hasn’t assigned a single piece of work in a month. Another has ceded all responsibility to the kids in the class.

Do your children understand why we have to be in “lockdown”? Do you do anything special to help them cope with it?

We try to force them to do something social and something physical every day, in addition to remote learning.

Have you learned anything about your children that you think will be beneficial once they return to the classroom?

Aside from realizing how alarmingly technophobic my son is (and trying to address that), nope.

How has your running changed since we’ve been in “lockdown”? Have you been taking your children out for runs with you?

I’ve recently started forcing my son to do a couch to 5k program, which he loathes. Once our lives become more normal again, I can’t imagine he’ll continue running. My daughter would rather use our rowing machine and do YouTube workouts than be seen with me outside.

My own running has ramped down, and I’m no longer out there at 5:30am. At first, I thought that the ability to sleep late and the added need for a de-stresser would be a boon to my running. Turns out that stress and anxiety outweigh those benefits, and my running has suffered. I’ve lost about 30% of my weekly volume, and my velocity is crap.

Interview and text by: Linda S. Chan
Photo courtesy of: Isaac Josephson
Edited and produced by: Alison Kotch

PPTC Parents In The Time Of Coronavirus: Isaac Josephson