Lazarus wrote on Feb 14, 2008 7:45 PM:
" It figures the Tomah Journal's liberal editorial staff would hate the notion of parents being able to control what social issues are taught to their children.
Speaking of which; if the schools, and the journal, are so concerned about the brick adn mortar public schools losing money, maybe they should chide the school board wasting money by implementing useless "diversity training" programs. That wastes more money that anything.
Well, maybe "useless" is the wrong word. They do serve a purpose; to indoctrinate young minds with the secular-progressive socialist agenda.
Virtual schools, more power to you.
I am going to look into getting my child into one of those right away. "
as soon as wrote on Jan 17, 2008 4:36 PM:
" As soon as private schools have the same clients that public schools must serve, then you can compare. Till then you are comparing apples and oranges. It's like we are chosing sides for basketball and I get all the regular kids and ones with issues while you get to chose which ones you will have and reject any that do not fit your needs, and then you claim to teach basketball better than I. What transparent silliness. "
RE:virtual pay wrote on Jan 17, 2008 12:35 PM:
" and what about you CRAZY WHACKO Secular Progressives that believe the Government is your personal Saviour. HEHEHEHEHEHEHE I couldn't let that go unchallenged people "hating" people that believe in God, somehow it only proves the need for GOD in your lifestyle, but being a progressive secularist that would resolve your guilt ridden ways of living "
RE:Wake up wrote on Jan 17, 2008 12:30 PM:
" your quote shows your nonsensical ability to debate an issue.
"So when you and your ilk have destroyed public schools where will kids get educated? Will it be schools for profit as I suspect? "
Unlike the Public Schools for TEACHER PROFITS? surely your kidding right. Whats the difference between a Public School that pays to much money for undereducated kids and a School that educates kids for up to 40% less cost and the kids get a better education?????? I call it a GRAND DIFFERENCE......SCHOOLS FOR PROFIT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR and yet they are cheaper......So "Einstein" with your statement you have just proved my point that the PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE A RIP-OFF and are scr*wing us out of atleast 30% of the cost of education "
Wake up wrote on Jan 16, 2008 7:26 AM:
" So when you and your ilk have destroyed public schools where will kids get educated? Will it be schools for profit as I suspect? "
Tired of unresponsive endlessly failing schools wrote on Jan 15, 2008 3:05 PM:
" They need a longer, better and more public track record before they can lay claim to public funds? You mean like the schools where kids fail in record numbers for decades and EDUCRATES refuse to help those who need more help on the bottom or need more of a challenge at the top? ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL when it comes to education. Come on! There is such a CRY for the poor education happening in this country and you can piously make such a ridiculous statement? You are suspect, sir. Parents need CHOICE and now that a good many number of parents have got a taste of how good education can be -- THEY WANT MORE!!!! Can you REALLY blame them? Look at the test scores! Parents who need alternatives are also part of that public who pays taxes. I say give me CHOICE and more of it! The districts need to take their lumps and learn. "
Wakeup! wrote on Jan 15, 2008 2:44 PM:
" To re:wakeup on 1/14/08. Dude, read what I am typing slowly. We are in agreement. I like the idea of online schools. I don't like government schools, but I see online government schools as a step in the right direction. "
virtual pay wrote on Jan 14, 2008 9:05 PM:
" Do the teachers get virtual pay? Is there virtual extra curriculars? Is there virtual lunch. What a great idea to let the madrassas( christian version) educate their kids at home and fill them with all that christian hate.Very important for the crazy religiopus here to mtach the crazy fanatic moslems hey? "
RE:A Fan of Your Editorial Board wrote on Jan 14, 2008 4:31 PM:
" You lost or work for the teachers union. BUT WHY CAN'T THE PARENTS CHOSE WHAT TYPE OF EDUCATION THERE KIDS SHOULD HAVE.....It's time that Taxpayers money for school should be done by a different method. I say only those that have kids should have to pay to send your kids to school.
It is stupid that people that have never had kids have to pay for someone else's kid......If parents had to pay for there own kids to get an education I GUARANTEE THE SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE TO DO A LOT BETTER JOB "
re:Wakeup! wrote on Jan 14, 2008 4:27 PM:
" You are exactly the type of person the Democraps preach to and you drink the KOOL-AID BY THE GALLON....A lesson in life to adhere to is this, If you have no idea what your talking about you should not talk and look foolish.........The schools LOSE NO MONEY because the kids that use these Virtual schools would not be in regular schools anyway. The schools have played this LIE long enough. "
LETS CHANGE THE SYSTEM wrote on Jan 14, 2008 2:27 PM:
" With all the failures of public schools and there attempt to just collect money and NOT EDUCATE KIDS it's about time for the "PUBLIC" to have "CHOICE" in the schooling of there children. It's a sad day when the Teachers union controls the schools and the "CHOICES" of what out kids are taught......SO MUCH FOR DIVERSITY.......We should look more to the Challenge academy type of schools to teach kids and teach them more then just a few classes....Our Public schools today don't PREPARE KIDS FOR todays jobs or how to make "GOOD DECISIONS" in everyday life.....Our public schools are nothing more then assembly lines for running kids through a corrupt and low achieving style of education and cost way to much money to achieve this lower class of education "
Concerned Reader wrote on Jan 14, 2008 1:54 PM:
" Virtual schools are anything but 'questionable recipients of public dollars.' They are legitimate public schools, created by school boards with the blessing of the Department of Public Instruction (until WEAC complained), and they follow the letter of the law when it comes to attendance and academic standards. The teachers are licensed. The kids are tested.
If the virtual schools attracted 10 children from the Tomah schools, why isn't Tomah asking what they could do better to serve these children and their families? Instead this editorial is whining about where the money went.
And that's the sad fact in this case. It's all about the almighty buck.
The fact that the virtual schools are providing exceptional educational opportunities and doing it for less money is exactly what has the teacher's union apoplectic.
Parents deserve choices. The children deserve the best options we can provide. The virtual schools deserve our support.
"
A Fan of Your Editorial Board wrote on Jan 14, 2008 1:21 PM:
" Again, you are right on with the issues. This is no exception. It is public money paid to home school, with little or no supervision! "
Wakeup! wrote on Jan 14, 2008 12:13 PM:
" Money paid to virtual schools is money taken out of the pockets of those that wish to indoctrinate our children for the New Word Order! I think virtual schools should be given every chance to provide a true education for our children, minus the politically correct, Christian/God hating extra-curricular garbage that is being taught alongside, in some cases instead of, true educations. "
Taxpayer for School Choice. wrote on Jan 14, 2008 11:38 AM:
" How is virtual education distinguishable from home schooling?
>>The school NOT the parents chooses the curriculum. The school NOT the parents sets the requirements for each student. A licensed teacher NOT the parents assumes responsibility for student progress and assessing achievement. The students are subject to the very same state attendance laws and standardized testing the kids in the 'bricks and mortar' schools are. Virtual schools are 'home-based' but they are certainly NOT homeschooling.
How “public” is a virtual school? (Unlike public schools, where teachers develop curriculum that’s subject to review by the local school board, Wisconsin Virtual Academy get its curriculum from K12 Inc.,)
>> The curriculum of the Wisconsin Virtual Academy is certainly subject to the review of the local school board. Their purchasing of curriculum is no different than any other school that buys curriculum from the many gigantic and profitable curriculum publishers like Macmillan or Houghton Mifflin.
What’s the impact on public school finance?
>>These schools run on LESS money than their counterparts. And they are efficient. A huge percentage of the money actually goes directly to support student learning. They certainly are not free however. They have teachers, administrators, curriculum, and hardware to pay for like other schools. The fact that the way schools are funded is thoroughly broken is not the fault of the virtual schools.
"
Steve wrote on Jan 14, 2008 8:34 AM:
" First, Virtual education is quite different from home schooling. Unlike traditional home school, students in WIVA are taught and graded by dues-paying WEAC teachers. The licensed teacher is in charge of the student's education and progress. Also unlike traditional home school, virtual school students are held to the same standards as children attending bricks & mortar public schools.
Said another way, virtual public schools are public schools in every meaningful way: Students are graded by public teachers and take the same tests and must meet the same standards as any other public student.
Second, the curriculum is developed and approved by public school boards. In this example, WIVA worked with K12 to cater the K12 curriculum toward Wisconsin state goals. This is no different than DPI or large Madison or Milwaukee school boards working with text book suppliers. There are many other virtual schools that do not source materials from K12.
Third, the number cited above as a $58,000 loss to the Tomah school district is a gross misrepresentation. If 10 students did open enroll into a virtual school, then it is accurate to say that Tomah didn't receive the state funding portion, which could be around $5,800 per student.
However, Tomah still received all of the property tax and local funding sources for those 10 students which typically is several thousand dollars per student.
For example, if the total cost to educate a student is $10,000 per student, and we take away $5,800, then the local district still received $4,200 per student.
Why? The local district provided no services whatsoever and incured no expenses. The local district had a windfall. The local taxpayer got taken.
Finally, if public virtual education is killed, it takes away a great school opportunity for ALL of Wisconsin students.
Does the Tomah Journal editorial board really feel that new, creative, and successful schooling should only be available to the wealthy that can afford private schools?
"
David Grevory wrote on Jan 13, 2008 8:59 PM:
" Tomah "Lost" $58000? How do you figure? The school district actually received more than $5,000 in state aid for each of those 10 students it provided no services for. The district actually gained money.
Your $1,2000 for the curriculum figure is also inaccurate. That price is for a different product and is not reflective of what is provided to students at the Wisconsin Virtual Academy.
You fear that private companies may be making money in this venture. Yet I'm sure you don't have the same concerns about school bus operators, book publisher and pencil makers.
As for how 'public' these schools are...each school board that operates a public virtual school approves it's curriculum, just like for their brick and mortar schools. All online public charter schools in Wisconsin are staffed by licensed school teachers (WEAC members, all) who provide the instruction, just like in brick and mortar schools. And the students are held to statewide standards for their performance on mandated standardize tests and school attendance just like their peers in traditional brick and mortar schools.
This isn't homeschooling. Home schoolers have a right, which they vigorously defend, to create their own curriculum and determine their own schedules.
Before you opine, please learn the facts. Learn more about these schools which are educating thousands of students across Wisconsin. http://www.wivirtualschoolfamilies.org
And read about how effective these schools are : http://www.everykiddeservesagreatschool.org
These schools aren't for every family, but they are a choice that works for a lot of families, including those with kids who have special needs or may be in military families. "
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