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Nathan, I heard a high-level public school district administrator say that he thinks cyber-schoolers (mainly homeschoolers) won't get a very good education if they participate in a public district's cyber-school program. His comment was, "...giving birth to another generation of illiterates."

What's your opinion on cyber schooling and do you know any homeschool kids who do the cyber thing?

By Nathan (Homeschool) on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 02:07 pm: Edit

Sounds quite unusual that public school personnel would criticize a public school’s curriculum. I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “cyber school”, but I think you mean a correspondence school that requires both teacher and student to transmit their work over the internet. I’m currently enrolled in a school like that; they send me CDs with the coursework on it and I do the work and then “sync” up with their servers to get it to my teachers.
These types of programs have many difficulties. First, there are problems with the synchronization of the student’s computer with the school’s servers. I’m having this problem right now, and I am currently unable to do today’s assignments. This type of situation is not beneficial at all. The second difficulty is that the student is generally left on his or her own to learn the material. I have found that talking over the phone with a teacher you have never met is not a very good way to get help with a hard concept. Self-motivation is a must, but a student can’t always teach himself everything; nothing replaces a physical teacher.
While cyber schools do have some benefits, I personally think that there are better ways to get an education than from a computer screen.

By MDmom on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 03:37 pm: Edit

Thanks for your frank opinions, Nathan. I tend to agree with you about the possible problems and the disadvantage of non-face-to-face teacher contact. What are a few of the "better ways to get an education than from a computer screen" you mention?

By Nathan (Homeschool) on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 07:52 pm: Edit

I am a huge fan of unschooling though I have never done it myself. I think traditional homeschooling is also up there as an excellent way to learn. Private and public schools would come in third and fourth. Of course with all of these, they only work if the student is in the correct environment. A person needing small class sizes will become lost in a public school and a child who must socialize will be sorely disappointed in any form of home education.

By burningman on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 08:01 pm: Edit

The administrator is probably threatened by the whole cyber-schooling idea. If cyberschooling would become popular, they would probably need fewer administrators, not to mention fewer union teachers.

By Megan Tichenor on Wednesday, October 23, 2002 - 12:49 pm: Edit

I am thinking about being homeschooled. I started my Sophomore year in Highschool in August. Are there any affordable over the internet schools? My parents would be unable to homeschool me, so is there any way, where i can be schooled right from the internet?

By Ally on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 01:03 pm: Edit

I am going to try home schooling next sememster. I cnat wait the only problem is that my dad seems to think that home schooling isnt as good a s public schooling I disagee however, how can i make him see that they are very similar in alot of ways?

By Ally on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 01:03 pm: Edit

I am going to try home schooling next sememster. I cnat wait the only problem is that my dad seems to think that home schooling isnt as good a s public schooling I disagee however, how can i make him see that they are very similar in alot of ways?

By Rowenna on Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 03:13 pm: Edit

I am doing a persuasion speech on the benefits of homeschool over public school for my Ninth grade Communications class. I am seeking imformation and support to use in my speech, as well as direct opinions and/or quotes from others. I will need any information by January third.
I have had first hand experience with homeschooling, as my parents homeschooled my siblings and i for several years, though now i am enrolled at public school. I especially am looking for resposes to people's challenges, such as when they say that the students wouldn't have experiences, and wouldn't be able to interact with other people.
Any help or ideas would be most appreciated. You can post them here, or e-mail me directly.
Thank you for your time.
Rowenna T.
High School Student

By shawn on Monday, January 13, 2003 - 01:52 am: Edit

nathan...what school are you enrolled into...please get back thanks..

By Ashlin Test on Monday, January 13, 2003 - 06:51 pm: Edit

I have a friend who has been telling me and some other friends that she is most likely attending cyber school next year. She says it is because she cannot stand our school, but it's not like she gets bullied in school or gets bad grades. Do you think that just because shes not happy with simply wakeing up early in the morning and sitting through classes during the day is any reason to quit public school? You can e-mail me your opinions.
Thanks