Monday, March 20, 2006
Gazette Corner: Judge rules against teachers union in matter of virtual schools
Click on the post for the full story in the Janesville Gazette about the ruling today against the teachers union in the matter of virtual schools.
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What I think this is really about is the teachers , the schools wanting to take away options. To force parents to have their kids in public schools or a school. There are plenty of parents out their who are just as qualified to teach their kids as some of the teachers who are out their. Virtual schools are here to stay and will continue to grow in numbers, so instead of putting the energy into stopping them,step it up and make your school a better place to be. My friends kids were home schooled their entire life and now both in U.W. colleges with 4.0 avg. so their is alot to be said for parents teaching their kids
ReplyDeleteWell, I hope no one is denigrating home schooling, as it has certainly proved itself. And, virtual schools add a wonderful element to education.
ReplyDeleteFor those parents who are successful at having their "students" enter good colleges and get good grades there, I say "Terrific! Well done!"
But make no mistake, not all parents can home school. Most of us have to work. But even if we weren't working, most of us don't have the knowledge and skills to teach. And most of us are very satisfied with the public system, a system that can teach Advanced Physics (I cannot), offer five years of Spanish, have students participate in a variety of extra-curricular activities, etc.
My own children have done exceedingly well within the public system, and are doing well in college.
Those of us who support the public system - and its teachers and staff - absolutely want better schools. But we have trouble when people are attacking teachers, blaming them for everything that goes wrong or their desire to make a decent living in a very difficult profession.
In sheer numbers, few of Wisconsin's children are home schooled. The overwhelming majority are from public schools. Our doctors, lawyers, dentists, mechanics, carpenters, plumbers, accountants, even the clerks in the local stores are products of our public system.
Even those UW professors, who give out those A's, so students can carry a 4.0, are from public schools.
Parents who home school must recognize that, while they can choose to take their children out of the public system - for whatever reasons, they cannot simply ignore public schools. We all benefit from strong schools. All of us.
Oh, yes, just in case anyone hasn't noticed, UW is also a public school.
I think that is where home schooling is different than virtual schools. Virtual schools are actually being taught by teachers. Where as home schooling is by parents. So the virtual schools are great in the sense these teachers (more than likely I assume) are capable of teaching the more advanced classes. NOT to say there are parents out there who can not do the same. If I were to choose one over the other I would choose the virtual school over standard home schooling. Did I say some where the u.w. was not a public school? Virtual schools are nice for the family's where both parents do work,because the student is accountable for what work he or she has or has not done. I also want to point out that either with the home schooling or virtual the amount of time that is required to spend on each subject is a fraction of what the schools do because the schools tend to have alot of discussion time or what ever, sometimes I think they waste time, because they are required to be there so many hours.
ReplyDeletevirtual schools, have actual teachers who are qualified to teach the more advanced classes.
ReplyDelete