I thought it was a ground-breaking event when the first accredited classes were offered online. Then, I was simply amazed at how we've seen a growth in the accredited university online schools(University of Phoenix, Concord Law, as well as Capella University) I took several courses via the internet while earning my master's degree at a "traditional" university and absolutely loved it. I didn't have to commute two hours to the university town and could enjoy my time at home, as well as work on projects at my own convenience. I've heard of a new trend as of late, and I'm curious as to whether or not this is truly a viable option.



Qustions for debate:

1.)Is it possible for a student to go through an online high school curriculum and be just as educated, if not better educated than a student who attends a "lind-line school"?

2.)Would you allow your child to attend(or if you are under the age of 18-would you be interested in attending) an online high school?

3.)Do you believe that online high schools will make "land-line" schools a thing of the past?


Personally, I'm of the opinion that #1 is feasible, but only for a select number of kids. There are not a lot of students who are intrinsically motivated, who know what they want to do and become in life. For the average student who is merely floating along, such a program might not work, since they will be allowed to "sink" In regards to point #2, I would let my child if they so desired, to attend an online high school. As long as communication occurs with a qualified staff member, it really doesn't matter where the learning takes place. I've always felt that extra-curricular activities somewhat hurt education in that students are distracted and valuable time is lost do to sports. I don't think we will see a day when most kids leave a brick and cement building in favor of virtual ones, but perhaps the number might be as large as 30% of all students in the United States around 2050 or so.

1.)Is it possible for a student to go through an online high school curriculum and be just as educated, if not better educated than a student who attends a "lind-line school"?
Easily. This would allow a student to actually go at their own pace instead of having to sit around waiting on either slower students or those who exist only to disrupt the pace. The strength of the online interactive format is formidable. Although many use the format to merely reproduce the stilted method of the landbased school there are many who are using this to engage the mind in the manner human beings actually learn. Students can be challenged in a manner that land based schools simply will never be able to afford either financially or timewise. There is an ever growing variety of alternatives out there that traditional schooling will never be able to offer. The options and methods available will soon enable people of any learning style to reach any limit they set for themselves. One also escapes the narrow vision of many "teachers". One can learn a subject of interest without being subjected to the teachers vision of what should be taught.


2.)Would you allow your child to attend(or if you are under the age of 18-would you be interested in attending) an online high school?
My first child won't be of age to attend school for a few years yet so hopefully many of the kinks will be worked out-- both of the technical nature and the interference of those resistant to any types of change which end their control.

3.)Do you believe that online high schools will make "land-line" schools a thing of the past?
No. I do think they will allow the way we teach children to enter a long overdue evolution. I hope that more community based education options will become available. I think the growing number of school options will open the system so that those that offer better methods and ideas will replace the destructive system we have now.

1.)Is it possible for a student to go through an online high school curriculum and be just as educated, if not better educated than a student who attends a "land-line school"?

Oh, it most certainly is. I think for the students who actually have a desire to learn it would be a great experience. There could exist forums (I'm thinking similar to AD) for students to communicate and debate with fellow "classmates" and their teachers. If a student desired to take extra elective courses, that could be accommodated; the student wouldn't be restricted in the number of total classes available by the number of blocks or periods in a day. It would also allow students to work at their own pace and, as mentioned above, not be held back by the slower students.

2.)Would you allow your child to attend(or if you are under the age of 18-would you be interested in attending) an online high school?

Oh, I would love it. The one thing that really gets me about my school is that there are a lack of AP courses and not enough slots for the classes that are available that I want to take. It would also open up a more varied course catalog (we have only three languages at my school- Latin, French, and Spanish- and Russian, but there are never enough people for it to be offered- and I've already gotten through three years of Latin and one of French) and would provide the advanced students an opportunity to take challenging classes. If I did attend such a school I would like to see an online forum like I mentioned above- where I could debate my fellow students (and teachers hopefully) and ask questions if necessary. I also like the idea of having an online library open to me (I could use things such as Lexis-Nexis and the Nation archives to no end). I think that it would give me a much freer environment and a student body of individuals who would more than likely care more than the people at my school. The only problem would be the inability to have effective clubs; while clubs could exist, there is that element of face-to-face contact which makes a club more appealing- but those issues could easily be overcome. I also love the idea that I don't have to be held back by people who are slower than I am. Sign me up!

3.)Do you believe that online high schools will make "land-line" schools a thing of the past?

I highly doubt that; there are too many obstacles to overcome there. First there's the problem of computers- but those are decreasing steadily in price. But the main issue is that there will always be students who need the structured environment and face-to-face contact that a school provides; let's face it, some students just can't go at their own pace. They must have a structured environment and a teacher to harp at them.

Isaac Asimov wrote about this possibility way back in 1951 with this ironic little story:

"The Fun They Had"

1. I certainly think this is possible. It seems like a great idea for self-motivated students. Maybe less motivated students might be required to attend classes, or otherwise be carefully monitored.

2. I think I would at least consider it. It would depend on the child, I think.

3. Maybe in the distant future. Asimov's story takes place in 2157. Maybe by then "teaching machines" would be able to recreate every possible form of "on-site" learning, and there would be no need for schools. It took a while for automobiles to transform horses from the basic form of transportation into animals for raised for fun. The little red schoolhouse will be around for a while.

1.)Is it possible for a student to go through an online high school curriculum and be just as educated, if not better educated than a student who attends a "lind-line school"?

This is such an awful idea. Really, truly horrible. First, high school is far more than a matter of education. It is about socializing, learning where you fit in, seeing a broader view of life. Had I taken online high school courses, I would have missed out on three years of friendships, embarrassments, triumphs, and everything else that goes on. Those three years were some of the best of my life. While it is true that people are picked on and unfairly ridiculed, it serves a sociological purpose, to expose them to a real world. I myself had my fair share of ups and downs in high school (more downs than ups), but I wouldn't have traded it in for anything. I learned a lot in terms of behavior and social psychology merely by witnessing it.

2.)Would you allow your child to attend(or if you are under the age of 18-would you be interested in attending) an online high school?

It is their choice. I would highly advise them to attend a standard high school along with online courses to get both experiences. Online courses take a lot more motivation and provoke a self-sufficient ideal, which is excellent. Standard schools provide a more real-world knowledge, a learning tool on how to behave and what is appropriate. Yes, high schoolers are generally immature, but that is a natural process of growing up. But of course, it is ultimately their choice. At that age, I think they are old enough to decide.

3.)Do you believe that online high schools will make "land-line" schools a thing of the past?

I sure as hell hope not. We'd become a populace separated by computer screens, possibly afraid to even interact with each other. I have very pessimistic doomsday images popping into my head as I write this. As in Fahrenheit 451 where the wife finds more enjoyment in talking to the TV than she does in talking to her husband. Of course, this is exaggeration, but it still scares me. There's a lot high school teaches that can't be taught in a simple online course.

I say give a green light.
I have done some online subjects for college.
I enjoyed it!
BUT there are a few cavets......

online schools will never replace in person schools. The human being is a creature that needs social contact...many people don't receive much peer interaction outside of school.
However, I have several friends that often miss school, whether it is due to illness, taking care of siblings, or because they missed the bus. In fact, one of my best friends has missed over 90 days of school because of health problems (she's diabetic, lactose intollerant, and has blood pressure issues causing her to pass out spontaniously) and is having to repeat many of her classes. However, because her senior year class schedule is already full of required classes (she's a junior and has had these problems since 7th grade), she will have to take night school in order to graduate on time, and it is still probable that she will graduate late.
If online classes were available, my friend (who qualified for Missouri Scholars Acadamy last year, very hard to do) would be near the top of her class.
Online classes should be available, but not nessarily replace formal education all together.

well, i believe that this is an awesome idea, being a junior in high school. but i also know that it will never come to be. if perhaps, a few class that i could take online were available, i would definately do it. i know for a FACT that if there was an online highschool, the students would perform better then those that were in school. ever since a few years ago, ive learned more online that i ever would in school, and i guarantee that.

1.)Is it possible for a student to go through an online high school curriculum and be just as educated, if not better educated than a student who attends a "lind-line school"?

I would say it was possible, although for their education to be better than a child attending a standard high school technology would have to improve - vastly. I'm talking a science fiction level of technology here, but of course that may not be as far away as we think. I download a lot of my lectures and courseworks from the university so that I don't have to travel in every day, but I still find the personal contact with my lecturers more beneficial than chatting through email or instant messaging.

2.)Would you allow your child to attend(or if you are under the age of 18-would you be interested in attending) an online high school?

I'm a long way off from having high school age kids, but if I felt the technology was such that they would receive quality education then perhaps. However, high school is much more than academic education, it is a social experience as well, and a vital one at that. Although most of us will have bad memories of physical/mental bullying or not being accepted by certain groups, high school teaches us how to interact and be part of the rest of society. Online teaching will never accomplish this as well as standard high schools will.

3.)Do you believe that online high schools will make "land-line" schools a thing of the past?

Because of my reasoning above, no. The most likely future will be a mix of the two, where children can make the most of their education through online access to study material and tutors. For example, if they wish to learn more in their free time programs could be put in place to teach them after school or at the weekends, or if they are unable to attend class for whatever reason perhaps they could log on from home so they don't miss out on lessons.

1.)Is it possible for a student to go through an online high school curriculum and be just as educated, if not better educated than a student who attends a "lind-line school"?

I don't believe so because there are just some things a computer can't teach. All those science experiments that most high schoolers do can not be duplicated. I also think students must learn to live with the stress of deadlines and competing against other students. I don't know exactly how an online curriculum would work, but I doubt it can simulate that.

FargoUT, while I agree that high school has many social elements, I believe your point is invalidated by all those home-schooled students who turn out to be socially normal. They are in the same position the online high school students would be in.

2.)Would you allow your child to attend(or if you are under the age of 18-would you be interested in attending) an online high school?

No, because I enjoy the human aspect of high school life.

3.)Do you believe that online high schools will make "land-line" schools a thing of the past?

Never because actually contacting with real people instead of some message board will never make online high schools dominant, just like these online courses won't dominate the college world.