Online schools give students more options in education
Lisa Kane
Many outlets for online schooling have popped up on the web in the recent decade; classes suited for homeschooled kindergartners to high school students, offering the chance to obtain a diploma at a “virtual high school.”
There are no actual teachers.
A “virtual school” student pays for books and other materials, then either teaches themselves or is homeschooled by a parent.
There are opposing views as to the effect on a young student, good or bad.
Mesa Community College sociology professor Paul Harasha created a theory, having observed his own children, other children and had discussions with other parents.
“The pros of homeschooling . parents can be completely hands-on with their child’s education, scheduling and curriculum are very flexible. Education is tailored specifically to the child’s interests, skills, and needs. Avoid ‘bad behavior’ kids at school; avoid wasted time of classroom management. (There is) more quality time spent at home, more time for arts, culture, walks, museums, music, etc,” Harasha said.
MCC psychology professor Derek Borman served as an educational assessment consultant for a small firm for about two years, and also had some research in the area.
“Performance-wise, at least a few research studies indicate that homeschooled children score in the 70 to 80 percentile on college entrance exams like the SAT. Though homeschool teachers aren’t always required to have some sort of accreditation, the fact that students get one-on-one time with a teacher/parent/mentor is likely to pay off with substantial learning gains,” Borman said.
Those who are homeschooled have also shown an increased dedication in the community.
“There is research indicating that a large proportion of homeschooled teenagers have jobs, interact with neighborhood peers and engage in volunteer and club activities. Upon graduation from homeschooling, research tends to support the conclusion that homeschoolers are more active in civic and volunteer efforts, than are their traditionally schooled counterparts,” Borman said.
Pros and cons aside, statistics point to the idea that although homeschooling can hinder socialization, it’s no hindrance to an education.
However, according to Harasha, there could also be disadvantages regarding the benefits of a regular classroom setting.
“Homeschooling limits opportunities for children to interact with other kids. Homeschooled children are not exposed to the same diverse range of ideas and perspectives. A classroom with children from different backgrounds, gives children ideas that may stimulate the mind to think and criticize. Critical thinking skills, appreciation and tolerance of others are enhanced in a regular school setting,” Harasha said.
