“I can't blame them for liking it, but you're giving up a lot just to be able to wear pajamas to school” — a sixth grader, speaking from experience.

While parents, educators, county residents and community leaders worry about the effects of the pandemic on education, students from six school districts in Butler County have shared their conclusions on the pros and cons of online, in-person and hybrid learning.

In today's edition of SOAR: Imagination Takes Flight, six school districts asked their students the issue's Big Question: How is learning from home different from learning in school? Which do you like better and why?

Excerpts from the essays from some of the students who submitted answers are featured. It was hard to choose which to highlight.

While many saw some advantages to online learning, most — such as Sugarcreek Elementary School sixth-grader Leah Sapp — missed their teachers, their peers and the traditional classroom routine.

“I had to do online school for a bit, and during that time, my grades dropped. Paying attention is a crucial part of learning, and for online school, I believe there are just too many distractions,” said Leah, whose bit of wisdom opened this article.

Distractions mentioned by students include pets, noisy siblings, video games, TV, snacking and sometimes chores from parents who “forget” their children are “in school.”

Seneca Valley 10th-grader Anna Zalnasky is brutally honest. “I tend not to pay attention to my classes,” she said. “I would rather lay in bed and sit on my phone than learn the material I need to know.”

There are rules in school and inherent expectations.

“Being in school keeps me on schedule that helps me to focus better,” Anna said. “In school, I put my full potential into all my schoolwork.”

And there are teachers.

“I'd say that it is a lot harder to focus when learning from home,” said Maisy Gibson, a 10th-grader in the Butler Area School District. “It's hard to grasp the concept when you don't have the teacher right in front of you to ask questions.”

Band class can be done online, but making music means being surrounded by the sound of fellow instrumentalists.

“I would attend my daily meetings and play my instrument with the band virtually,” said Paityn Armstrong, a ninth-grader at Seneca Valley Intermediate High School. “It was definitely an interesting experience, hearing only myself play the music.”

Students still grew and acknowledged their own learning to take more responsibility for their education and find the motivation to overcome technical difficulties, programming changes and fear of COVID-19.

“As much as I don't like wearing masks, they are one of the only things keeping us healthy, safe and in school,” said Hailey Allison, a South Butler Intermediate Elementary School student.

But most of all they missed each other.

“I missed the laughter of my friends echoing throughout the hallways, the excitement of waiting for after-school activities, or even knowing what my teachers look like,” said Katie Mack, a ninth-grader at Seneca Valley Intermediate High School.

While most students saw some online benefits — such as flexibility, using downtime to pursue other interests, no bus rides, extra sleep, unlimited snacking — the majority want to be back in class and face-to-face.

“I definitely enjoy joining class in my sweatpants at home, but I know that learning in school is going to help me in the long run,” said Rachel Henne, a 10th-grade student at Seneca Valley Intermediate High School. “It can be hard to motivate yourself at home, but I always tried to focus on my end goal and my future and tell myself I can't cheat my way out of this.”

Donna Sybert is the managing editor of the Butler Eagle.