'Virtual' public schools may be wave of the future

I'm glad to see two responsible parents signing on in favor of the concept. Valid points made regarding bullying, drugs, gangs, etc. However, what if the child had two working parents and no nanny looking over his/her shoulder? How motivated would a child be if there was no adult guidance? I agree, the school system is far from perfect, but how many low income families can afford computers and monthly internet fees? There are too many kids out there now who have no parental guidance, so this "one size fits all" doesn't work for everyone.

just a fad. it will come and go.

This will be my son's second year in Texas Virtual Academy, another online public school. It allows us to homeschool using a public school curriculum, where he can go at his own pace, not face distractions (girls) or bad influences, and we're in control of the assignments. We've had to switch schools 4 times in the last 6 years due to bullying, teacher incompetence, administrative issues, & NISD's stupid one-day-a-week Gifted & Talented policy in elementary schools. One teacher didn't like me getting up in her business about how much my son WASN'T learning in her class because she had to dumb it down for the rest of them and how she made fun of him for being smart, so she called CPS on me in retaliation - and yes, that's legal, and she faces no consequences. SST charter school was a joke (administration tells new parents NOTHING). I don't have to buy the latest, most expensive fashions to impress other kids or many school supplies. He's not distracted by girls. He hasn't been beat up once. He's not exposed to drugs or gangs. He can work as fast as he wants. He has gotten straight A's. We know all his assignments, due dates, and have a say in his learning. It's been the best thing for our family. They do have to take the TAKS - you have to take them to a school for it. He got nearly perfect scores on both of those last year. Both my husband and I work - our home daycare provider is his learning coach. Oh, and by the way, costs are much lower so they get much better learning materials - no delapedated buildings, utility fees, security, etc. The teachers can serve more children more efficiently, too.

You virtual poo pooers don't know too much about this other than the few sentences you read above. I would rather have my children in virtual school than the trashy public school in my neighborhood, where they have already learned plenty about bullying and drugs and overcrowded classrooms where teachers spend more time on crowd control than teaching. Yes, it takes parental involvement for virtual school to be successful, but that's you job as a parent - to be involved in your kids' lives. The benefits of virtual school are great, flexible schedule, excellent education, lots of learning resources.

This is a GREAT way to teach our kids to be LAZY. good job Texas Connections Academy.

This concept just might be a good idea, except of course for the parent not being there to watch over the progress during the day. The student would have to be real disciplined to make this happen. I would support this if there was at least one parent at home wathcing over this. But again, I understand not every child or family has two parents.

"Learn at their own pace". If that isn't a minefield waiting for customers, I don't know what is. It's evident that many kids aren't getting basic parental guidance at home, and now you expect them to voluntarily sit in front of a computer to learn? Oh yeah, here's your virtual education, your virtual diploma, now go out in the virtual world and try to earn a virtual living.

I better be paying virtual school taxes then!