What do you all think of Virtual Schooling?

Charter schooling qualifies at public school at home, educationally speaking. That's not my rule. . .that's the boe language.


And yes I suppose it does depend on which side of the fence you're on but. . .no one can make you feel guilty, badly whatever, without your permission. I simply refuse to give permission! I see your point that others don't though.


And yes. . .just bc we think differently that is fine! (You'll let me come back right? :lol: ) And really, it's just a matter of terminology to me. . .me saying that I don't think virtual public schools are homeschooling doesn't mean that I don't think they're a valid means of education. I'm all about the parental choice. ;-) But yes, I understand some people would say that is a snub. . .

 

I think the virtual school thing is good for students who cannot attend school but the parents still want to follow the schools ways. KWIM? Maybe an accident or some other family issue that keeps the kid from going to school.
As for the homeschooling part, they are schooling at home, right? That is why they consider themselves homeschoolers?

 

Our public system does not consider any programs through the public school, whether virtual schooling or independant study, as homeschooling. They make it clear that we are part of a government funded program. In fact, the district office shuns homeschooling all together. It is a good thing they have no power over private schools since this is how we operate. Otherwise we would be in trouble!
Patty

 

I haven't read all of the posts here because I'm literally falling asleep at the computer but after reading the initial post I'd like to comment.

We did the virtual school for the past two years and won't do it again. While I considered myself to have HSed during that time I have come to the realization that it is basically bringing PS home and it therefore blows away my main HS philosophies. Having to follow "what" to teach and "when" to teach it doesn't seem much like HSing. However, I do think that virtual schoolers have the right to consider themselves homeschoolers because their still is a significant amount of influence that the parent has over the child's education. Whenever people asked me where the kids go to school, I often replied "I homeschool through an online school". Keep in mind that while HS purists might find the idea of virtual schooling being equated with HSing inaccurate, for the average person out there the simple act of removing your child from the public school setting and keeping them home is pretty radical, and therefore worthy of a "homeschool" distinction.

 

My hubby said he did not want us virutal schooling my dd because I would still be doing the teaching but we would be paying someone to do the grading and attendance and lesson plans, he did not think that was worth it.
Personally I would have enjoyed a year of her having the interactive lessons but hey. Hes the principal and I follow his lead!
They would be less free flowing too I am sure but it could be good?

 

My daughter is in 10th grade and takes all of her classes on a virtual school system. I am not solidly in favor of that, but it works for us. I bought MathUSee, Saxon, Bob Jones Geography, Apologia science, and other curriculums for last year, but she did poorly becuase she was not responsible enough to go at it herself. She shut me out of her schooling.

Let me frame this for you --
I have my 15yo daughter, a 12 yearold son, a 9 yo daughter and a 19 mo old son. I also have 3 step-kids -- 12, 8 and 6, who come to visit us often. The baby was an attention vaccuum last year, and becuase of this I was not able to monitor her as closely as I would have liked. She took an online English I course, and performed very well, making a 97% for the year in an honors class. I would prefer to oversee her curriculum, especially World History and Language arts, but it's not possible given the complexities of our situation. I often feel like I've sold out, taken the cheap, easy route, and gotten away with not really doing much for her. But even though she'd rather go to high school this was a compromise for us. High School is a different booger all together, esp. when you have the dynamics we have. Your children have to begin to settle down and do more independent studies, preparing them for college, and she was not willing to do this. I did what I felt I had to do, since her schooling was not complete last year as a result of her slackness. In fact, she's taking Geometry again, and has to complete science labs and papers in order to get credit for last years' science.

My other children are doing the "Lifepac" curriculum on CD-ROM. I like that one becuase it's more interactive, and I can anticipate the curriculum, and be proactive with it. This one is NOT the academy-style one where you have teachers monitoring. This is completely self-contained. THe grading is done for me unless I intervene and give more or less credit for something, and I have to grade the essays based on criteria that they recommend.

I much prefer the way we're doing the younger kids' stuff.

I have friends who go it on their own, and have excellent results. I would absolutely LOVE to have the confidence to do it that way with my kids, and have their cooperation. I'm more of a Charlotte Mason style teacher, but outside influences prohibit me from doing this. (not to mention I have an ex husband who is not all that sure I should be homeschooling in the first place, but I don't care.

One thing that I had to do is register my 15yo with our county schol system, so that she could play varsity ball with our local high school. Our state is excellent about Homeschooling, and is very accomodating. At first I felt a little threatened, but I realized that the odds of them doing anything or being nosy were not that great, since we have 10,000 homeschoolers here.

I guess I'm rambling. I'll stop. I just thought I'd give my $.02

TeeHEE
Laura

 

I am loking into registering my dd with team stuff at my sons private school.
I understand the shutting you out, I felt that last year and we did nto do so well so we are trying new stuff this year,
NEXT year she is supposed to go out so she HAS to complete all this this year, and then can do that.
I found having a reason to work helps my teens.
and I hve no problem with rambling Laura lee I do the same thing ! Lol!

 

I've never really thought about whether virtual school was homeschooling or not. I live in IL & our laws are extremely easy here. I had to notify the district that I was puling dd out after kindergarten, but that's it. I'm considered a private school & don't have to report to anyone. So, I've always just done it all myself. My dd is gifted & has severe ADHD, so she can't use a full packaged curriculum. She's at different grade levels in different subjects, has her own way of learning (which is not read the text & answer the questions like in public school), needs to work at her own pace, and needs to be allowed days off whe we're too stressed to work (or the basement floods, there's a faily emergency, or we just want to go hang out at the bike path & feed the ducks). I never even considered using virtual schools, because I knew they wouldn't meet our needs. So, I guess that's why I've never really thought about it. I can see how they would be useful, though, if you live in a state that has very strict regulations & yearly testing.
Aren't there any virtual schools that aren't considered part of a public school district?

 

There are probably some private virtual schools, but the private schools here are all to some degree under governmental regulations. For example, homeschoolers are the only ones exempt from taking Profeciency Testing. The private schools tried to fight that, claiming that when over 90% of their students went onto college, why should they have to waste time teaching a test? Well, they lost in court!

I don't want my children attending a private school, no more than I want them attending a public one. Again, this is our choice for our family and not at all our opinion on what others are chosing for their family.

 

Wow, here its up to the private school, that is what we are registered at is a Private inhome school,