In February, the West Morris Regional High School District announced that Mondays would become asynchronous learning days for all students. This change was celebrated across the vast majority of the student body. It created a chance for students to work at their own pace, catch up on assignments, and have some time away from their computer screens.

Recently, there have been rumors that in the future, these asynchronous days might be reverted back to regular school days. While these rumors have not been confirmed, it has been argued that many students will not follow up on the assignments given during these asynchronous days - and that serves as a setback to instruction. While recognizing the importance of this, it is still possible to hold students accountable without affecting the schedule. Many students profess that they are able to be far more productive on asynchronous days than in days when they would actually have class.

I am a senior at Mendham High School and a student representative for the school Wellness Committee, which was created in January 2020 to discuss policies and initiatives relating to student mental health. Whether or not this change is being planned, I have started this petition in order to gain a deeper understanding of how students have been positively affected by the implementation of asynchronous Mondays. If this becomes an issue up for discussion, I will bring this information to the committee.

Now more than ever, it is critical for students and teachers alike to prioritize mental health. Removing a day in which we can do so would be a step in the wrong direction.