Comments on: Virtual schools, but real tax dollars paying for them. Good idea? http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/06/virtual-schools-but-real-tax-dollars-paying-for-them-good-idea/ Your source to discuss and learn about education in Atlanta, Georgia and the nation Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:16:31 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Cynthia Harris http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/06/virtual-schools-but-real-tax-dollars-paying-for-them-good-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-20468 Cynthia Harris Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:09:44 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2860#comment-20468 I am a second year learning coach for my 5th grade son with GVA. It is a wonderful school. The teachers are superior and very caring. It works great for my family and my son who has ADHD. I support GVA 110%! I am a second year learning coach for my 5th grade son with GVA. It is a wonderful school. The teachers are superior and very caring. It works great for my family and my son who has ADHD. I support GVA 110%!

]]> By: Janet http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/06/virtual-schools-but-real-tax-dollars-paying-for-them-good-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-18487 Janet Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:45:50 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2860#comment-18487 Traditional classroom education doesn't work for everyone, so it's no surprise that online education (or a combination of online/traditional education) is becoming so popular. Plenty of kids in rural areas in the USA and Australia received fine educations at a distance via radio or tv, so why not online? As long as they have other opportunities to meet kids their own age, it's not going to be a problem. The major beneficiaries of this mode of learning at the moment seem to be working adults. Getting a degree from an accredited online university, like AIU Online (http://www.aiuonline.edu), is a convenient way to further one's education without having to stop work. Traditional classroom education doesn’t work for everyone, so it’s no surprise that online education (or a combination of online/traditional education) is becoming so popular. Plenty of kids in rural areas in the USA and Australia received fine educations at a distance via radio or tv, so why not online? As long as they have other opportunities to meet kids their own age, it’s not going to be a problem.

The major beneficiaries of this mode of learning at the moment seem to be working adults. Getting a degree from an accredited online university, like AIU Online (http://www.aiuonline.edu), is a convenient way to further one’s education without having to stop work.

]]> By: Educator and GVA Parent http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/06/virtual-schools-but-real-tax-dollars-paying-for-them-good-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-17358 Educator and GVA Parent Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:02:39 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2860#comment-17358 As a 20 yr. GA educator, I see a very real need for GVA. As a parent, I'm in my 3rd year with GVA now with our 7th grader. GVA is very clear in how their program works. The parents are coaches, but they do have the support of teachers. The state funding is used for hiring those teachers, buying the materials(textbooks, science experiment materials, workbooks, etc). I couldn't believe the quality and depth of materials that we received to help with our son's education. I will say this too, GVA has vastly improved from it's first year up until now. Everyone must keep in mind that this is a new concept for K-12 public education and it will be a learning process for them, as well as the parents and all those involved. And it won't be the right "fit" for everyone. As a 20 yr. GA educator, I see a very real need for GVA. As a parent, I’m in my 3rd year with GVA now with our 7th grader. GVA is very clear in how their program works. The parents are coaches, but they do have the support of teachers. The state funding is used for hiring those teachers, buying the materials(textbooks, science experiment materials, workbooks, etc). I couldn’t believe the quality and depth of materials that we received to help with our son’s education. I will say this too, GVA has vastly improved from it’s first year up until now. Everyone must keep in mind that this is a new concept for K-12 public education and it will be a learning process for them, as well as the parents and all those involved. And it won’t be the right “fit” for everyone.

]]> By: E http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/06/virtual-schools-but-real-tax-dollars-paying-for-them-good-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-17338 E Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:12:29 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2860#comment-17338 @ Georgia Teacher and Mother: That generation is growing up, and the style with them. I went out for lunch the other day in my casual clothes, and was confronted in the bathroom by a mother who asked "You're one of them weird goth things aren't you?" I was confused, as I merely had on a black t-shirt with a video game graphic, white sneakers, and black cargo pants - hardly extreme in any way. It turns out her son is now dressing in that "weird stuff". I informed her that I was doing perfectly fine, graduated college, and was employed doing professional work for the government - that I didn't think the clothes would hurt him any. Maybe you should send that teacher a couple NCIS episodes. ;-) @ Georgia Teacher and Mother:
That generation is growing up, and the style with them. I went out for lunch the other day in my casual clothes, and was confronted in the bathroom by a mother who asked “You’re one of them weird goth things aren’t you?” I was confused, as I merely had on a black t-shirt with a video game graphic, white sneakers, and black cargo pants – hardly extreme in any way. It turns out her son is now dressing in that “weird stuff”. I informed her that I was doing perfectly fine, graduated college, and was employed doing professional work for the government – that I didn’t think the clothes would hurt him any. Maybe you should send that teacher a couple NCIS episodes. ;-)

]]> By: Not typical http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/06/virtual-schools-but-real-tax-dollars-paying-for-them-good-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-17300 Not typical Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:41:34 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2860#comment-17300 Sure, online course participants miss the social interaction of face-to-face instruction. So? That's not the only source of social interaction, otherwise we'd all stay in school for our entire lives. Straw-man argument there. "Some parents aren't qualified to teach their children..." Very true indeed. But nearly 30% of adults in the US have a bachelor's degree or higher and 10% have a master's or higher. Most of those don't have that degree in "elementary education" but instead in a subject that required some serious study. Those parents are far more qualified to help their kids than are the teachers they hire to do it. Some of you seem to be making the argument that "if some online schools are bad, they are all bad" and that "if some parents are too stupid to teach their kids all parents are too stupid" - neither of those arguments has any validity whatsoever. I have two bachelor's and three master's degrees - I don't need some half-educated public elementary school teacher telling me what works and what doesn't. I suspect that I'm more than qualified to make my own decisions. Sure, online course participants miss the social interaction of face-to-face instruction. So? That’s not the only source of social interaction, otherwise we’d all stay in school for our entire lives. Straw-man argument there.

“Some parents aren’t qualified to teach their children…” Very true indeed. But nearly 30% of adults in the US have a bachelor’s degree or higher and 10% have a master’s or higher. Most of those don’t have that degree in “elementary education” but instead in a subject that required some serious study. Those parents are far more qualified to help their kids than are the teachers they hire to do it.

Some of you seem to be making the argument that “if some online schools are bad, they are all bad” and that “if some parents are too stupid to teach their kids all parents are too stupid” – neither of those arguments has any validity whatsoever. I have two bachelor’s and three master’s degrees – I don’t need some half-educated public elementary school teacher telling me what works and what doesn’t. I suspect that I’m more than qualified to make my own decisions.

]]> By: Laura http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/06/virtual-schools-but-real-tax-dollars-paying-for-them-good-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-17224 Laura Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:50:52 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2860#comment-17224 I think that an online school can be just as effective as a traditional class, but it takes knowledge and research to find a program that works for that individual student. This is not a decision that should be rushed. http://learn.colostate.edu/blog I think that an online school can be just as effective as a traditional class, but it takes knowledge and research to find a program that works for that individual student. This is not a decision that should be rushed.

http://learn.colostate.edu/blog

]]> By: Georgia Teacher and Mother http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/06/virtual-schools-but-real-tax-dollars-paying-for-them-good-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-17191 Georgia Teacher and Mother Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:57:03 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2860#comment-17191 I am a first grade teacher with 12 years of experience and a mother of two sons. My children are night and day in appearance, learning styles, behavior, likes, dislikes, and much more. They both have gifted IQs, but they have had very different educational experiences. My oldest son never struggled with any work, was spoken highly of by all of his teachers, and was involved in academic teams. He only had one discipline action taken in grades Pre-K – 12th. He received three days ISS in 10th grade for having a travel Chess set in his backpack. Most schools promote Chess because it promotes higher-level thinking and strategy skills. He was very upset by this. In the first place it was a Chess set and he did not have it out. Secondly, this was his first time being written-up and did not receive a warning or even just one day ISS. And lastly, because he sees other students, athletes in particular, who wild in the halls, misbehaving, skipping classes, and so on, but never go to ISS or have their behavior addressed. My youngest son on the other hand has always disliked school and has had a very hard time in school. He has received F’s on projects because he would not read his presentations or recite the Declaration of Independence in front of the class. Why should a child being shy, affect his grades? Last year, in the 11th grade, he had a teacher tell him that he was a Satan worshipper because of the clothes that he wear, and then she called, told me the same thing, and said we need to have a parent/teacher conference. My son wears Skateboarder and Gothic style clothing, but he is a Christian. His clothes have about as much to do with religion as the bell-bottom pants of the 60’s or the tennis shoes many of us wear today. When I went to the school to address her accusations and behavior to my son, it was made clear by the principal that this was not new for her, and they quickly changed his schedule to move him out of her class. I decided to offer my son the option to complete school with the Georgia Virtual Academy. Even though he has had a very difficult time in a traditional school setting all of these years, he chose to stay in his school and graduate with his friends. Had I offered it to him years ago, he may have jumped at the chance, but he didn’t want to change this close to the end. I honestly do not believe there will be a massive exodus from the public schools, but I do think that it is definitely a much needed, long overdue, and WONDERFUL option for those children that have been or are truly miserable in school because of: peer pressure, gangs, bullying, drugs, the nasty rumor mills, clicks, prejudices/reverse prejudices or favoritism shown to a select few by some teachers, misjudged/mistreated based on looks, differences, styles, or learning styles. And I believe that Online Education should be available for students that need or want it based on the previously mentioned reasons and it SHOULD BE FUNDED BY TAX money because it is our responsibility to educate EVERY CHILD, and every child deserves a chance to have a successful educational experience in a safe NON-threatening environment. Just as one shoe or job is not suited for everyone, public classroom are not the best answer for everyone. Innovations are almost always met with skepticism or indifference because some people do not see the necessity of it unless it affects them, especially if it will affect their money/taxes. Think outside the box and the WALLET! I am a first grade teacher with 12 years of experience and a mother of two sons. My children are night and day in appearance, learning styles, behavior, likes, dislikes, and much more. They both have gifted IQs, but they have had very different educational experiences.
My oldest son never struggled with any work, was spoken highly of by all of his teachers, and was involved in academic teams. He only had one discipline action taken in grades Pre-K – 12th. He received three days ISS in 10th grade for having a travel Chess set in his backpack. Most schools promote Chess because it promotes higher-level thinking and strategy skills. He was very upset by this. In the first place it was a Chess set and he did not have it out. Secondly, this was his first time being written-up and did not receive a warning or even just one day ISS. And lastly, because he sees other students, athletes in particular, who wild in the halls, misbehaving, skipping classes, and so on, but never go to ISS or have their behavior addressed.
My youngest son on the other hand has always disliked school and has had a very hard time in school. He has received F’s on projects because he would not read his presentations or recite the Declaration of Independence in front of the class. Why should a child being shy, affect his grades? Last year, in the 11th grade, he had a teacher tell him that he was a Satan worshipper because of the clothes that he wear, and then she called, told me the same thing, and said we need to have a parent/teacher conference. My son wears Skateboarder and Gothic style clothing, but he is a Christian. His clothes have about as much to do with religion as the bell-bottom pants of the 60’s or the tennis shoes many of us wear today. When I went to the school to address her accusations and behavior to my son, it was made clear by the principal that this was not new for her, and they quickly changed his schedule to move him out of her class.
I decided to offer my son the option to complete school with the Georgia Virtual Academy. Even though he has had a very difficult time in a traditional school setting all of these years, he chose to stay in his school and graduate with his friends. Had I offered it to him years ago, he may have jumped at the chance, but he didn’t want to change this close to the end.
I honestly do not believe there will be a massive exodus from the public schools, but I do think that it is definitely a much needed, long overdue, and WONDERFUL option for those children that have been or are truly miserable in school because of: peer pressure, gangs, bullying, drugs, the nasty rumor mills, clicks, prejudices/reverse prejudices or favoritism shown to a select few by some teachers, misjudged/mistreated based on looks, differences, styles, or learning styles.
And I believe that Online Education should be available for students that need or want it based on the previously mentioned reasons and it SHOULD BE FUNDED BY TAX money because it is our responsibility to educate EVERY CHILD, and every child deserves a chance to have a successful educational experience in a safe NON-threatening environment.
Just as one shoe or job is not suited for everyone, public classroom are not the best answer for everyone. Innovations are almost always met with skepticism or indifference because some people do not see the necessity of it unless it affects them, especially if it will affect their money/taxes. Think outside the box and the WALLET!

]]> By: Georgia Teacher and Mother http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/06/virtual-schools-but-real-tax-dollars-paying-for-them-good-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-17190 Georgia Teacher and Mother Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:33:08 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2860#comment-17190 As an experienced first grade teacher, I know that there are many parents whose educational levels would make it impossible for them to help their child at the high school level. I have had parents who were unable to work with their first grade child. I have also had a parent ask me to help her fill out the free/reduced lunch form. This being said, I think it could be perfect for many students that are self-motivated or those students that are having a bad school experiences, such as: peer pressure, taunting, bullying, being different, prejudices/reverse prejudices, gangs, or low performing schools and/or teachers. As a mother, I have one son that breezed through AP classes and the only time he got in trouble at school, was for carrying a travel sized Chess set in his back pack. (He received 3 days ISS in tenth grade. This was his first and only "offense" from Pre-K to 10th.) This seemed very unfair to me as a teacher, when I have students that demand about half of my instructional time addressing behavior. I also have another son who is very different. He is constantly in trouble, because of little things, such as: having ski cap on to hold down his very curly hair, not having a belt on eventhough his pants do not sag down, or because he dresses in the Skateboarder or Gothic style (No make-up.) He actually had a teacher tell him that he was a Satan worshipper and then she called me concerning this! My son will quickly let anyone know that he is a Christian. His clothes are an expression of his individuality. It is a style! It has about as much to do with religion as bell bottoms or sneakers. When I went to the high school to address this with the office, it was made clear that this behavior was not new for this teacher, and they quickly assisted me with changing his courses. This clearly shows that there are teachers that do not belong in our schools and that some schools are not for every child. I only recently became aware of the Georgia Virtual Academy. I offered my son the choice of completing high school online, but since it was his senior year, he opted to tough it out and graduate with his friends. My son, the student who has always had a hard time in school even though he has a high IQ (gifted), didn't jump at the chance to stay home on a computer. I think he proves that there will not be a giant exoduce of the public schools, but I do think it should be there for those that would benefit from it and yes, it should receive public funding. As an experienced first grade teacher, I know that there are many parents whose educational levels would make it impossible for them to help their child at the high school level. I have had parents who were unable to work with their first grade child. I have also had a parent ask me to help her fill out the free/reduced lunch form.

This being said, I think it could be perfect for many students that are self-motivated or those students that are having a bad school experiences, such as: peer pressure, taunting, bullying, being different, prejudices/reverse prejudices, gangs, or low performing schools and/or teachers.

As a mother, I have one son that breezed through AP classes and the only time he got in trouble at school, was for carrying a travel sized Chess set in his back pack. (He received 3 days ISS in tenth grade. This was his first and only “offense” from Pre-K to 10th.) This seemed very unfair to me as a teacher, when I have students that demand about half of my instructional time addressing behavior. I also have another son who is very different. He is constantly in trouble, because of little things, such as: having ski cap on to hold down his very curly hair, not having a belt on eventhough his pants do not sag down, or because he dresses in the Skateboarder or Gothic style (No make-up.) He actually had a teacher tell him that he was a Satan worshipper and then she called me concerning this! My son will quickly let anyone know that he is a Christian. His clothes are an expression of his individuality. It is a style! It has about as much to do with religion as bell bottoms or sneakers. When I went to the high school to address this with the office, it was made clear that this behavior was not new for this teacher, and they quickly assisted me with changing his courses. This clearly shows that there are teachers that do not belong in our schools and that some schools are not for every child. I only recently became aware of the Georgia Virtual Academy. I offered my son the choice of completing high school online, but since it was his senior year, he opted to tough it out and graduate with his friends. My son, the student who has always had a hard time in school even though he has a high IQ (gifted), didn’t jump at the chance to stay home on a computer. I think he proves that there will not be a giant exoduce of the public schools, but I do think it should be there for those that would benefit from it and yes, it should receive public funding.

]]> By: Newton Teacher http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/06/virtual-schools-but-real-tax-dollars-paying-for-them-good-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-17150 Newton Teacher Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:59:19 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2860#comment-17150 flipper, I believe you should have put a "g" with the letters "sayin" if you were trying to spell the word "saying". Or maybe that was your backwater attempt at sarcastic humor. Heck, maybe it was mine. I'm just saying... flipper,
I believe you should have put a “g” with the letters “sayin” if you were trying to spell the word “saying”. Or maybe that was your backwater attempt at sarcastic humor. Heck, maybe it was mine. I’m just saying…

]]> By: flipper http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/06/virtual-schools-but-real-tax-dollars-paying-for-them-good-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-17119 flipper Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:13:35 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2860#comment-17119 Uuuuuuh, Sharee...... based on the grammar in your posts, I would highly highly recommend that you let someone teach your child who actually has some basic skills. There is no way that your child is going to learn what s/he needs to know with you as a teacher. Pleeeeaaaase find that child a school somewhere so s/he can learn to communicate. I'm just sayin'. Uuuuuuh, Sharee…… based on the grammar in your posts, I would highly highly recommend that you let someone teach your child who actually has some basic skills. There is no way that your child is going to learn what s/he needs to know with you as a teacher. Pleeeeaaaase find that child a school somewhere so s/he can learn to communicate.

I’m just sayin’.

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