Comments on: A Move to Limit Educational Choice in Florida

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:10:00 +0000

FLVS has been a boon to thousands of students and hundreds of teachers and it’s restriction is completely illogical. Trying to stuff a successful model back “into the bottle” is futile and so luckily this and any other legislation will not be able to quell such a good idea/solution forever. Those who fear that children will not be able to socialize must not have talked to one of these students or spent much time engaged in online education themselves. The increased control over pace and inquiry allows learners to spend less hours “waiting on others” to reach learning outcomes and can instead spend those hours socializing through sports and after-school programs, recreational programs, jobs, and social groups like scouts, a dance troupe, or a chess team. In other words, virtual education will be the majority model in one form or another by (and hopefully long before) the end of this Century. FLVS is just a pioneer.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:41:00 +0000

why are you trying to make a desicion that we will affect the future

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:06:00 +0000

Budget cuts, budget cuts! at the expense of our children’s education. FL is backwards in their thinking on virtual education. Many states have public virtual schools in place for all grade levels. My children have all excelled with virtual education. I can promise you they are not undersocialized because they school at home on their computer. On the contrary, this educational choice has freed them up to percsue jobs, hobbies, volenteer work and time with friends. While virtual education is not for everyone, it offers a GREAT option for many.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:04:00 +0000

Our daughter is currently taking several on-line courses with FLVS so she can graduate early with full high school credits. This was her only tool to make her dream a reality. She has already been accepted into college. This would have been impossible without FLVS. Thank you for having a wonderful challenging program to supplement the traditional classroom studies. The teachers have been in touch with us every step of the way. Thank you again. DPK

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:44:00 +0000

I am a current FLVS student who does all academics online, while doing things such as JROTC at my local high school. I get all the education I need and do not lose the high school experience.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:04:00 +0000

Dear Anonymous, you are assuming that all children and teenagers get positive socialization while many do not. Students that have health issues, disfigurement, panic attacks, depression, unpopular sexual orientations, and have been victims of bullying (just to name a few) are not receiving the “ideal” that you possibly did. Yes, diversity is to be celebrated but for many, it is a painful reminder that they are drastically different at a critical time in their life. FLVS teachers cannot see who is “the pretty one” and who is “best dressed” they only see the work and hear the voice of the student that they are teaching, 1 at a time. It is not going to replace traditional school but it is an important option for many.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:53:00 +0000

But what about socialization? Schools aren’t necessarily for teaching academics. How will kids learn to cooperate in groups or get along with people of different races if they never leave home, living like a hermit.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:48:00 +0000

“Before you start pointing your fingers at the nefarious teachers unions, note that this time its the Republican-dominated Florida State Senate that’s proposing these changes.”

Behind every “great” politician – Republican or Democrat – there is usually a great teacher’s union. Just ask Congress and our President.

By: David Abbott

David Abbott — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:35:00 +0000

As a parent of a FLVS student who had completed 3 years of HS courses online, I have nothing but positive things to say about Florida Virtual School.

It is an outstanding education option, and the quality of education surpasses the experience our child has had in the traditional public school classroom.

By: john thompson

john thompson — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:57:00 +0000

If what you say about Florida is true, and I have no reason to doubt it, then that’s good news. Its also good news when peole acknowledge the other side of the argument. If NYC could do that, Klein and company would have less motivation to manioulate data.

And yeah, we need to innovate and online tools have got to be part of the solution. So, what about the basic point? Can we have enough honest innovation in an environment of data-driven accountability?