I recently completed the enrollment for my step daughter in a fully accredited online high school. Out of frustration, she was preparing to drop out of her public high school. This was not acceptable to me, so we began seeking alternatives. Her dilemma was much like many kids today.
My step daughter had been failed twice in her earlier grades due to her English. She was catching up, however. In fact, in her first year of high school, she made the honor roll. I was really proud of her. That is why I was so shocked at what happened next. Shortly after making the honor roll, she badly failed the state exams.
She now faced being held back a third time. The data indicated that being held back twice causes over a 90% chance of dropping out of high school. Somehow, I had hoped that she would defy the odds. It didn't happen.
When someone says that they support standardized testing, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Where are those "standardized children? With today's schools reduced to test prep centers, where is the opportunity for creativity?
They are so, so different. How can you squeeze them through a one size fits all, grinder? Why would you want to do that? As they get older, they get even more individual, and unique. Why stifle that? Our country needs imaginative thinkers, and creative experts. Let's give them some slack.
I am a fierce advocate of self paced lessons. This is not possible in traditional public schools. I think that a child should be able to work through one lesson at his own pace until it is completed, and mastered, before moving to the next one.
This gives a logical, step by step progression to learning. Public schools present material to a large group of students at a time. Some will grasp the lesson, some will be bored by a pace too show, and some will get lost, and fall behind. The problem is that in a class, materials are just "broadcast" to some fictitious average student.
It seems to me that online schools are perfect for self pacing. As a matter of fact, with the clear stresses and unfairness of "No Child Left Behind", online education will become more and more popular. Virtual schools have the exact solution.
Another of the impressive points about online high school is the expanded course offering. For economic reasons, public school can only offer the basics, and a few electives. Online schools can offer much more. This is another plus that increases creative choices. Boring high school students with narrow, test focused classes is not doing them any favor.
For my step daughter, and myself, we decided on an online school with good accreditation, challenging curriculum, and 100 courses to choose from. The decision took days of shopping, and elimination. The high priced schools didn't fit my budget. The free schools tied to the public system were also rejected because of the same old testing regime. If you decide to explore online alternative schools, shop carefully.
My step daughter had been failed twice in her earlier grades due to her English. She was catching up, however. In fact, in her first year of high school, she made the honor roll. I was really proud of her. That is why I was so shocked at what happened next. Shortly after making the honor roll, she badly failed the state exams.
She now faced being held back a third time. The data indicated that being held back twice causes over a 90% chance of dropping out of high school. Somehow, I had hoped that she would defy the odds. It didn't happen.
When someone says that they support standardized testing, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Where are those "standardized children? With today's schools reduced to test prep centers, where is the opportunity for creativity?
They are so, so different. How can you squeeze them through a one size fits all, grinder? Why would you want to do that? As they get older, they get even more individual, and unique. Why stifle that? Our country needs imaginative thinkers, and creative experts. Let's give them some slack.
I am a fierce advocate of self paced lessons. This is not possible in traditional public schools. I think that a child should be able to work through one lesson at his own pace until it is completed, and mastered, before moving to the next one.
This gives a logical, step by step progression to learning. Public schools present material to a large group of students at a time. Some will grasp the lesson, some will be bored by a pace too show, and some will get lost, and fall behind. The problem is that in a class, materials are just "broadcast" to some fictitious average student.
It seems to me that online schools are perfect for self pacing. As a matter of fact, with the clear stresses and unfairness of "No Child Left Behind", online education will become more and more popular. Virtual schools have the exact solution.
Another of the impressive points about online high school is the expanded course offering. For economic reasons, public school can only offer the basics, and a few electives. Online schools can offer much more. This is another plus that increases creative choices. Boring high school students with narrow, test focused classes is not doing them any favor.
For my step daughter, and myself, we decided on an online school with good accreditation, challenging curriculum, and 100 courses to choose from. The decision took days of shopping, and elimination. The high priced schools didn't fit my budget. The free schools tied to the public system were also rejected because of the same old testing regime. If you decide to explore online alternative schools, shop carefully.
About the Author:
Home schooling is tough on the parents. Follow Ed Desmond and teach them with a strong virtual high school Explore every site as you shop for a school. Take a tour of the accredited online school we chose.
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