Alexandria Rugenstein, August 19th, 2024
Title
Alexandria Rugenstein, August 19th, 2024
Description
In this interview, Alexandria Rugenstein shares how covid effecter her as a school teacher and the affects she has seen it have on students.
Publisher
Detroit Historical Society
Rights
Detroit Historical Society
Narrator/Interviewee's Name
Alexandria Rugenstein
Brief Biography
Alexandria Rugenstein is a resident of Springfield, Michigan. She works as an elementary school teacher in Harper Woods.
Interviewer's Name
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo
Date
8/19/2024
Interview Length
11:36
Transcription
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: I'm Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo It's August 19th, 2024, and I'm here with please say your name.
Alexandria Rugenstein: Alexandria Rugenstein.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: I can't please spell your name.
Alexandria Rugenstein: A l e x a n d r i a R u g e n s t e I n?
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: Thank you. And where you do you live?.
Alexandria Rugenstein: In Springfield.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: How long have you lived here?
Alexandria Rugenstein: {Auido Ununderstandable}
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: {Auido Ununderstandable}
Alexandria Rugenstein: {Auido Ununderstandable}
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: What were you doing in education before becoming a teacher?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I was a para pro, and then I was a building, so.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And where do you work?
Alexandria Rugenstein: In Harper Woods.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: So when did you first hear about covid 19?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I first heard about Covid 19 around February of 2020, and mostly because my friend and I were planning a big international trip to Japan, and he started telling me about, you know, hey, there's this virus going around overseas and we're going to possibly have to cancel our trip. So that's really kind of alerted to the bigger picture.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: {Auido Ununderstandable}
Alexandria Rugenstein: But not as much as I expected it to. Affect everything.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And when did you start to come?
Alexandria Rugenstein: It's more I believe it's real. So when we went to the first line and every bullet. And then that was kind of the. The ripple effect that impacted me the most.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: Where are you? Where were you working at the time?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I was working in the School of Hair building.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And did this down, initially affect the work? Things were closed down. Were you still working there? When the school reopens.
Alexandria Rugenstein: Well, something shut down, and I did volunteer my time to go and help pass out lunches for the kids. For our, like, free lunch students. So, we were still kind of working in some capacity a couple times a week, but not obviously in the original capacity that we were hired for. However, when we finally went back to school, my position within the district kind of was eradicated because they were doing virtual. So I, left at that point and got a job in another district as a building sub.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And what did that new job look like to start with? Were there any changes from what working at a school have been like before?
Alexandria Rugenstein: Definitely. Students weren't allowed to leave their desks. They weren't allowed to interact {Auido Ununderstandable}
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And what do you think the effects of these new rules were on the school experience?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I would definitely say that it affected a lot of social skills amongst the students, but even amongst the adults, we were also isolated and staying away from each other.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: What were the impacts you noticed on the social skills?
Alexandria Rugenstein: The younger kids just didn't develop the same social skills that, you know, you or I might have developed at that same age. So, for example, the like first graders, they weren't allowed to interact with each other. And so there was a lot more bickering and arguing going on because of small little issues where. When I was in school, we were able to resolve those a little bit differently, then screaming and yelling at each other and arguing.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And did you notice any impacts on academic performance?
Alexandria Rugenstein: Yes, because there was a lot less collaboration amongst the students. They were able to tag along. {Auido Ununderstandable}
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And what were some ways that you and the other teachers that you spoke with were trying to adjust to this difference in social and academic program?
Alexandria Rugenstein: Tried as much as we could. Having kids communicate each other. But while staying in their seats, using a lot more call and response things where, you know, I ask a question and the kids have to answer out loud and sort of collaborating together. We get to use more of the kids, more of them, I guess. More to be.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: {Auido Ununderstandable}
Alexandria Rugenstein: {Auido Ununderstandable}
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And in the years since you've started working there. How do you notice these effects diminishing or compounding?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I'd say it's gotten a little bit better, {Auido Ununderstandable} my first year of teaching would have been in kindergarten when Covid hit. So they got some of those social skills. The group I had this year have been broken hearted as they are not social skills. They can't think about sitting in the or the five they met on the street, and I think they keep the safest.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: How do you think the long term impacts, of the pandemic and the shutdown might be on these educational systems?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I'd like to think that eventually it'll kind of weed itself out as we get going further along. I teach elementary, so it would take longer for someone to get through all of those deficits. That teaches a higher grade level, whereas this year the third graders that I would be getting would have, you know, been in school full time for kindergarten. So they would have had those the more traditional teaching than the two previous classes.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And do you think there have been any benefits to the educational system from any of the adaptations that emerged during the pandemic?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I think so. I feel like a lot of health districts have just kind of tell you from the start while the chains inserted. So I think it's been hard for different, because it's kind of meeting them at their level. You know, they're already on TikTok and all that. So they're like, oh, we get to be on a computer today. {Auido Ununderstandable}
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And you see impact of any?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I had symptoms or anything. So. Not that I'm aware of. I could have been one of those lucky ones that was asymptomatic, but.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: Did you know a lot of family and friends who contracted?
Alexandria Rugenstein: {Auido Ununderstandable} But I knew a lot of other people outside of my household also. That got it.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: Did you know anyone who, got a very severe case?
Alexandria Rugenstein: Yes. And several that had, sadly, that have sadly passed away.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And how did you feel at the time about the shelter in place orders and have your opinion on?
Alexandria Rugenstein: And I prayed with them, not a sit at home and just chill type of person. So it was really hard for me to just sit home and not do anything. But. I'm not my angel or anything. I never missed. It was how to do.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: Did you start any new activies?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I like to crochet and knitting. I already knew how to knit, but I picked it up again. I got back into reading. But I also my in hospital, so I picked a job at one of those that considered, just the hospital.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: I'm, like, working all that time.
Alexandria Rugenstein: Thank you. If there really is, other than no visitors. I mean, we had to wear masks all the time, and. But there wasn't any other big precautions. I sat in a chair across the room from them, which is. But the sitters normally would. So, I mean, other than I did have to sit in a room a couple times with someone who had Covid, but, you know, we had all of our, you know, the answer for that.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: How do you feel about looking that far in time?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I was frustrated about the requirements for the vaccine. Obviously I was working in the hospital, but so the pool require me get it fixed for teaching me so I working at it. I didn't like that right at the outset by choice. I should have just about 16 anyway, but it should have been something that I chose to do. Not something that was told I had to do.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And have your opinions on the management of the pandemic in general changed over time.
Alexandria Rugenstein: I don't think so. I feel like it was handled as best as anyone can handle it. I mean. The last pandemic that we had was what the Spanish flu in the early 1900s. So no one really alive today has ever experienced something like this firsthand. So I think it was handled as best as we could.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And what do you think the lasting impacts of the pandemic have been on your life in metro Detroit, on the world?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I definitely see a lot of changes. Like stores aren't open as late or, like restaurants, they're not open as late. There's definitely a lot of staffing issues around. So I definitely see that there's an impact on just life in general since the pandemic. And it seems like at times it feels like we're going back to like the normal from before. But I think this is just the new normal.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And how would you define the new normal?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I don't know. I think it's just. It's not much different than what it was before. I just did, you know, those things kind of like the Mandela Effect. Everyone's just like, well, I remember it this way. Well, now it's this way.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And what lessons do you hope were learned through the pandemic?
Alexandria Rugenstein: That's a tough one. Hmhm. I'm not sure. I hope that people learn to. Be a little more compassionate and kind, because I feel like there was a lot of. Not a lot of that going around before. Or at least during. There was a lot of anger and. That pent up frustration, which was understandable in the midst of things. But I just hope that the lessons behind it all were, you know, we need to think that and understand that the people that make the decisions. They know what they're doing.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And was there anything else you wanted to discuss regarding your experience with Covid? That none of my questions have brought up?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I don't think so.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: All right. So that was all the questions I had for you today. Thank you so much for your time.
Alexandria Rugenstein: You're welcome.
Alexandria Rugenstein: Alexandria Rugenstein.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: I can't please spell your name.
Alexandria Rugenstein: A l e x a n d r i a R u g e n s t e I n?
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: Thank you. And where you do you live?.
Alexandria Rugenstein: In Springfield.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: How long have you lived here?
Alexandria Rugenstein: {Auido Ununderstandable}
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: {Auido Ununderstandable}
Alexandria Rugenstein: {Auido Ununderstandable}
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: What were you doing in education before becoming a teacher?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I was a para pro, and then I was a building, so.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And where do you work?
Alexandria Rugenstein: In Harper Woods.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: So when did you first hear about covid 19?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I first heard about Covid 19 around February of 2020, and mostly because my friend and I were planning a big international trip to Japan, and he started telling me about, you know, hey, there's this virus going around overseas and we're going to possibly have to cancel our trip. So that's really kind of alerted to the bigger picture.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: {Auido Ununderstandable}
Alexandria Rugenstein: But not as much as I expected it to. Affect everything.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And when did you start to come?
Alexandria Rugenstein: It's more I believe it's real. So when we went to the first line and every bullet. And then that was kind of the. The ripple effect that impacted me the most.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: Where are you? Where were you working at the time?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I was working in the School of Hair building.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And did this down, initially affect the work? Things were closed down. Were you still working there? When the school reopens.
Alexandria Rugenstein: Well, something shut down, and I did volunteer my time to go and help pass out lunches for the kids. For our, like, free lunch students. So, we were still kind of working in some capacity a couple times a week, but not obviously in the original capacity that we were hired for. However, when we finally went back to school, my position within the district kind of was eradicated because they were doing virtual. So I, left at that point and got a job in another district as a building sub.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And what did that new job look like to start with? Were there any changes from what working at a school have been like before?
Alexandria Rugenstein: Definitely. Students weren't allowed to leave their desks. They weren't allowed to interact {Auido Ununderstandable}
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And what do you think the effects of these new rules were on the school experience?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I would definitely say that it affected a lot of social skills amongst the students, but even amongst the adults, we were also isolated and staying away from each other.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: What were the impacts you noticed on the social skills?
Alexandria Rugenstein: The younger kids just didn't develop the same social skills that, you know, you or I might have developed at that same age. So, for example, the like first graders, they weren't allowed to interact with each other. And so there was a lot more bickering and arguing going on because of small little issues where. When I was in school, we were able to resolve those a little bit differently, then screaming and yelling at each other and arguing.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And did you notice any impacts on academic performance?
Alexandria Rugenstein: Yes, because there was a lot less collaboration amongst the students. They were able to tag along. {Auido Ununderstandable}
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And what were some ways that you and the other teachers that you spoke with were trying to adjust to this difference in social and academic program?
Alexandria Rugenstein: Tried as much as we could. Having kids communicate each other. But while staying in their seats, using a lot more call and response things where, you know, I ask a question and the kids have to answer out loud and sort of collaborating together. We get to use more of the kids, more of them, I guess. More to be.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: {Auido Ununderstandable}
Alexandria Rugenstein: {Auido Ununderstandable}
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And in the years since you've started working there. How do you notice these effects diminishing or compounding?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I'd say it's gotten a little bit better, {Auido Ununderstandable} my first year of teaching would have been in kindergarten when Covid hit. So they got some of those social skills. The group I had this year have been broken hearted as they are not social skills. They can't think about sitting in the or the five they met on the street, and I think they keep the safest.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: How do you think the long term impacts, of the pandemic and the shutdown might be on these educational systems?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I'd like to think that eventually it'll kind of weed itself out as we get going further along. I teach elementary, so it would take longer for someone to get through all of those deficits. That teaches a higher grade level, whereas this year the third graders that I would be getting would have, you know, been in school full time for kindergarten. So they would have had those the more traditional teaching than the two previous classes.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And do you think there have been any benefits to the educational system from any of the adaptations that emerged during the pandemic?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I think so. I feel like a lot of health districts have just kind of tell you from the start while the chains inserted. So I think it's been hard for different, because it's kind of meeting them at their level. You know, they're already on TikTok and all that. So they're like, oh, we get to be on a computer today. {Auido Ununderstandable}
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And you see impact of any?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I had symptoms or anything. So. Not that I'm aware of. I could have been one of those lucky ones that was asymptomatic, but.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: Did you know a lot of family and friends who contracted?
Alexandria Rugenstein: {Auido Ununderstandable} But I knew a lot of other people outside of my household also. That got it.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: Did you know anyone who, got a very severe case?
Alexandria Rugenstein: Yes. And several that had, sadly, that have sadly passed away.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And how did you feel at the time about the shelter in place orders and have your opinion on?
Alexandria Rugenstein: And I prayed with them, not a sit at home and just chill type of person. So it was really hard for me to just sit home and not do anything. But. I'm not my angel or anything. I never missed. It was how to do.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: Did you start any new activies?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I like to crochet and knitting. I already knew how to knit, but I picked it up again. I got back into reading. But I also my in hospital, so I picked a job at one of those that considered, just the hospital.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: I'm, like, working all that time.
Alexandria Rugenstein: Thank you. If there really is, other than no visitors. I mean, we had to wear masks all the time, and. But there wasn't any other big precautions. I sat in a chair across the room from them, which is. But the sitters normally would. So, I mean, other than I did have to sit in a room a couple times with someone who had Covid, but, you know, we had all of our, you know, the answer for that.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: How do you feel about looking that far in time?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I was frustrated about the requirements for the vaccine. Obviously I was working in the hospital, but so the pool require me get it fixed for teaching me so I working at it. I didn't like that right at the outset by choice. I should have just about 16 anyway, but it should have been something that I chose to do. Not something that was told I had to do.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And have your opinions on the management of the pandemic in general changed over time.
Alexandria Rugenstein: I don't think so. I feel like it was handled as best as anyone can handle it. I mean. The last pandemic that we had was what the Spanish flu in the early 1900s. So no one really alive today has ever experienced something like this firsthand. So I think it was handled as best as we could.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And what do you think the lasting impacts of the pandemic have been on your life in metro Detroit, on the world?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I definitely see a lot of changes. Like stores aren't open as late or, like restaurants, they're not open as late. There's definitely a lot of staffing issues around. So I definitely see that there's an impact on just life in general since the pandemic. And it seems like at times it feels like we're going back to like the normal from before. But I think this is just the new normal.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And how would you define the new normal?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I don't know. I think it's just. It's not much different than what it was before. I just did, you know, those things kind of like the Mandela Effect. Everyone's just like, well, I remember it this way. Well, now it's this way.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And what lessons do you hope were learned through the pandemic?
Alexandria Rugenstein: That's a tough one. Hmhm. I'm not sure. I hope that people learn to. Be a little more compassionate and kind, because I feel like there was a lot of. Not a lot of that going around before. Or at least during. There was a lot of anger and. That pent up frustration, which was understandable in the midst of things. But I just hope that the lessons behind it all were, you know, we need to think that and understand that the people that make the decisions. They know what they're doing.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: And was there anything else you wanted to discuss regarding your experience with Covid? That none of my questions have brought up?
Alexandria Rugenstein: I don't think so.
Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: All right. So that was all the questions I had for you today. Thank you so much for your time.
Alexandria Rugenstein: You're welcome.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Alexandria Rugenstein, August 19th, 2024,” Detroit Historical Society Oral History Archive, accessed October 5, 2024, https://detroit1967.detroithistorical.org/items/show/1048.