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1/25/2008
Democracy works for virtual schools. Hallelujah
Congratulations to virtual school students, virtual school families, forward-thinking school districts around the state**, and to all Wisconsinites dedicated to high quality education for all. As reported in several news outlets yesterday, legislators have agreed to a compromise that guarantees the survival of virtual schools in Wisconsin.
**Thank you Lee Allinger, AASD Superintendent, and your staff, for preparing testimony in support of continuation of Wisconsin Connections Academy.
Thank you and congratulations to the Coalition of Virtual School Families, who issued this press release of thanks (and relief) yesterday.
But mostly, hallelujah! for democratic process and to kids and families who made a difference. Kids and families – 1100 of whom showed up in Madison last week to plea for their cause. Wow.
And congratulations to State Rep. Brett Davis and Senator John Lehman, who were able to reach across the aisle (political pressure didn’t hurt – see above) and find a solution.
Senator Lehman has retracted his funding cut threat. School districts have agreed to specific accountability measures.
FoxPolitics shared insights last week from a parent who attended the Virtual School rally with her husband and children. Here are a few more from a fellow rally attendee that are also insightful - and refreshing. … we filed inside and spoke with our individual representatives. After that we registered our opinion with the committee - they were in session for just over eight hours; 150 people requested to speak.
We received an enormous amount of positive feedback from legislators. Our own Representative Kaufert indicated his support for the bill, and had some insightful questions about socialization. Senator Ellis was not in his office but he has expressed support for virtual school friendly legislation in a previous email to my wife.
…. Our kids enjoy the flexibility or their virtual school - if they want to work ahead, they can. If it's better to (say) take a field trip to Madison to study the legislative process up close and personal then that's easy to arrange as well. My oldest son is able to work ahead at his own pace, which he enjoys a great deal.
It appears to me that making a distinction between 'virtual schools' and public schools is making an artificial division where one does not exist. Connections Academy and WIVA (and others!) are public schools where the classrooms are 'elsewhere' and the education does not cost as much per pupil as a traditional school.
At my job I have the option to work from home. Yet we don't say that my job is virtual - I have a boss and work mates just as if I were parked in a cubical. My office is wherever may laptop is...
….I feel strongly that having public schools is a good thing for us as a culture. But 'school' does not have to be a building with a flagpole out front anymore than 'work' must be a building with cubicles.
Something struck me while I was watching the committee on the 16th - the folks on the right were acting all forward thinking and ready to jet into the future. The people on the chair's left were all about status-quo and preserving privileges and obligations that are rapidly becoming obsolete.
COMMENTS
Since when did the right become the enclave of progressive thought and futurism and the left seen as protecting privilege and the status quo? This reverse speech would be funny if it were not so self-serving and disingenuous.
Since last Friday's discussion of this topic here in FP, I have learned more about the virtual school system and how it differs (if at all) from home schooling. It turns out not much. A recent interview program had a teacher from St. Norbert's college on this issue. St. Norbert's is a parochial school. When asked if in the virtual classroom there was video of a teacher on screen to give the lesson, the response was no.
It is important to note here that there was no opposing viewpoint and that the 'fair and balanced' pose of the representative of St. Norbert's college was thinly disguised propaganda for the virtual school program: a happy talk discussion of two pieces of legislation.
What actually happens is that only the curriculum (lesson) is delivered and the parent then delivers the curriculum to the child. This is what the court case was about and the judge ruled that there was no teacher instruction so the end result is defacto home schooling by non- professionals. There is no 'conference call' style give and take of question and answer or anything else. The only form of teacher contact is instant messaging-- a box that pops up on the screen.
That is my vindication for the drubbing in replies posted here last week.
This debate should continue. It should proceed with an explication of what accountability measures have been put in place. What is to ensure that the vast majority of kids who are not housebound for long periods of time nor sequestered in private and parochial schools or so-called charter schools are getting the view of the world beyond their own backyard which is the intent of public school? That is the real progressive and futuristic view of education.
Whoever said that virtual schools as described here were a "fact of life" as part of his spin. But there is nothing inevitable or immutable about the future of the virtual school rograms now in place. The plug can be pulled by concerned and vigilant citizens at any time.
I'm in Atlanta's airport, enroute home Lon. Will indeed consider how best to consider the conversation when I have more laptop power and more time. I'm saddened that you are so bitter about virtual schools as a learning option. JE
Lon Ponschock (Fri Jan 25 12:03:56 2008)
I applaud families who advocate for their children and make the commitment to educational environments that benefit their children and their families. I applaud the efforts families have made to keep virtual schools a viable option.
As a public school teacher, I have a concern. There are some children who need specialized instruction to learn. If a child has special needs that are not met through home schooling or in a virtual school environment, parents often decide that public school is the next choice. At that point, the public school is directly responsible (in the statistics) for that child's achievement even though they have not had any impact on his/her learning.
The federal government is holding all public schools to strict achievement levels for all students. (For the most part a good thing.) It seems extremely inappropriate that a public school should be held responsible for the achievement of children they have not had a reasonable opportunity to teach.
Linda Schmale (Fri Jan 25 12:59:32 2008)
"Since when did the right become the enclave of progressive thought and futurism and the left seen as protecting privilege and the status quo? This reverse speech would be funny if it were not so self-serving and disingenuous. "
I'm reporting on what I saw. That was my impression based on listening to and watching just under eight hours of testimony; the Democrats on the Assembly committee were in favor of the status quo, the Republicans or trying out new approaches.
I speak not as a Progressive nor a Conservative; my ideology is pretty broad and does not strictly line up with either side.
"Since last Friday's discussion of this topic here in FP, I have learned more about the virtual school system and how it differs (if at all) from home schooling."
So .. you were yammering on about how much of a danger virtual schools are when you had no idea what they were?
And I thought Marines were arrogant. At least they have justification for feeling superior to other service members.
"When asked if in the virtual classroom there was video of a teacher on screen to give the lesson, the response was no."
And your point is ...?
" There is no 'conference call' style give and take of question and answer or anything else."
I believe this has come up here before: In WIVA there are several opportunities for the certified teachers to interact with their students each week. The teacher can have more sessions, including one-on-one (in person and remote) sessions with the student if needed or desired.
"The only form of teacher contact is instant messaging-- a box that pops up on the screen."
You insist on yapping on about topics on which you are willfully ignorant, so I'll restate this for you benefit, Lon: this is not true.
"What is to ensure that the vast majority of kids who are not housebound for long periods of time nor sequestered in private and parochial schools or so-called charter schools are getting the view of the world beyond their own backyard which is the intent of public school? "
Is that what school is for? Silly me I thought it was about .. you know .. educating people. Ideological krep begins and ends at home.
Tell you what - you worry about your kids and their view of the world, I'll worry about mine.
Brian (Sat Jan 26 23:43:11 2008)
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