EDITORIAL – Virtual school is keeping kids at home

It seems that you can do everything online nowadays. From ordering food to picking out pets,… It seems that you can do everything online nowadays. From ordering food to picking out pets, there are fewer and fewer reasons to leave the comfort of your home — unless you like that whole human interaction thing. But who needs people? Just ask Jeeves.

Soon Missouri kids won’t have to make the trek to school to get an education. New legislation approved by state lawmakers Tuesday will create a virtual public school for ill or home-schooled students. Enrolled students attend online classes led by state-certified public school teachers following state-approved curriculum.

Virtual school attendees still have to take standardized tests and show improvement, as required by the No Child Left Behind Act. The state’s education board will oversee enrollment requirements.

If approved by Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, the $2.8 million project will launch with an enrollment of 500 students by 2007.

And what about students who use this program to avoid going to school? This program isn’t for kids who want to stay home, according to Rep. Brian Baker.

An Associated Press article also mentioned students in need of a different approach to education as candidates for the virtual school. This is a vague clause that can potentially be exploited by parents and students. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary education, who have come out in support of virtual school, will have to meticulously monitor the status of students attending virtual school in order to maintain validity for the project.

Missouri’s virtual school seems like a good idea — well, a better idea than home schooling alone. For students who can’t make it into the classroom, the standardized education proposed by virtual school will help to make sure students aren’t at a huge disadvantage because of their absence.

In addition to the advantages of providing students with standardized education, virtual school is probably more cost effective than hiring independent tutors to help students on extended leave from school.

Still, there is nothing like being in a classroom. Learning social skills is just as important in school as learning state capitals or how to do long division. If the program is abused by students and parents, it’ll only impact the student negatively. Enrollment standards must be strict and heavily monitored to prevent manipulation of the system.

While there have always been questions about parents influencing their student’s work in a home-school situation, there are no assurances that the same won’t happen with a virtual school. But, if a student is going to cheat, he’ll find a way in or out of the classroom.

Missouri’s virtual school seems like a sound plan; however, abuse of the program will only handicap students by depriving them of the social interaction that helps shape their adolescence. If Missouri can monitor enrollment and make sure students aren’t unnecessarily enrolled in virtual school or overstaying their invitation, then the program should be an improvement of the current home-schooling system.