Going to Be Moving Our Daughter to a Virtual School Next Year
By Steve Helmer
@srhelmer (7029)
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
June 3, 2019 1:05pm CST
This was a tough decision. Even though I have always been intrigued by the whole virtual school concept, I've been reluctant to make the move. But, after a long discussion with her and her guidance counselor, we are going to pull the trigger and try it.
She's a bright teenager but, between bullies, distracting friends and having to sprint to her classes because they don't give enough time to get to her locker, she just can't seem to find her footing in a more traditional setting. And, unfortunately, her teachers just seem too overwhelmed to be of any help. Even her guidance counselor has a 3-4 week waiting list. I'm hoping getting her away from the "noise" will help her.
Not to mention, I am very impressed with what I'm seeing as far as course offerings go. She has an opportunity to do careers-based education, including video game design (one of the things she's interested in). She also can learn Mandarin Chinese and sign language, two courses that currently are not taught at our local high school.
In fact, I'm actually considering moving my younger daughter to virtual school in a couple years. She does quite well in a traditional setting. But, she's in 4th grade and is already reading/doing math at a 7th-grade level. Since our district doesn't offer much for gifted students, I am concerned she is going to get bored before too long.
8 people like this
7 responses
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
6 Jun 19
That is a tough decision for sure. I agree. But I know you will think.and do the best.
1 person likes this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
4 Jun 19
It sounds like it would be a very good thing for your daughter. She will have a better variety of classes that she can take.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180699)
• United States
3 Jun 19
You can always try it and see how it works. Going back to public school is always an option. One of the mylotte'rs Shannybanny's son goes to cyberschool. I think it works out reasonably well for him.
@srhelmer (7029)
• Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
3 Jun 19
That's kind of the approach we're taking. But, I don't think I'd send her back to our high school. I've been very unimpressed with it all year and would be willing to transfer her to a different district if needed, even though it means having to drive her there every day.
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@parpande (1515)
• Bangalore, India
3 Jun 19
@srhelmer your daughter seems to have distinct capabilities from other students of her age and I am happy to learn from the post of something very new for me like virtual school , I had never ever heard of anything of that sort.
Planning a career in video games designing looks very exciting ....
@srhelmer (7029)
• Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
3 Jun 19
She's still trying to make up her mind. She also has an interest in genetics and a talent for foreign languages. She self-taught herself some Korean and is really interested in learning Mandarin Chinese (though I think she should consider sign language too).
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@parpande (1515)
• Bangalore, India
3 Jun 19
@srhelmer that is just awesome . Well South east asian languages are not that easy , having learnt Korean seems she is a good learner and a rare prospect .
I heard Chinese is too complex as there are numerous alphabets .
A couple of days back I motivated my wife to learn Japanese , it was late than never that she abandoned the learning. Momentarily she is planning for Spanish
@arunima25 (87806)
• Bangalore, India
4 Jun 19
If I am not wrong, you mean to say Home schooling. I am home schooling my younger daughter and I am finding it a quite fulfilling experience for both of us. We are a group of some 20 parents and more. We have rented a place and carrying it out. Though it is an extra effort and demands a lot of involvement from parents, we are happy. Our kids are doing well. We follow Waldrof philosophy and curriculum.
@parpande (1515)
• Bangalore, India
4 Jun 19
@arunima25 ok so you are home schooling your younger one , how does it go ? I mean does the student need not attend the school regularly and only visits for examinations. And does icse or cbse affiliates such paradigm of education ? I am not indicating open school like NIOS that is in here since late 90s perhaps .Could you tell more of that ....
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@arunima25 (87806)
• Bangalore, India
4 Jun 19
@srhelmer That sounds good. It's good that you have such option. It will meet her needs.
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@Michellekidwell (29416)
• Sonora, California
3 Jun 19
I’ve been intrigued with the idea for sometime too, it sounds like it will be a good move!
@srhelmer (7029)
• Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
3 Jun 19
Prior to making the decision, my wife and I had conversations with roughly a dozen different parents who did the same for their kids. Not a single one of them had a complaint. In fact, one of our daughter's ex-classmates made the switch this year. Prior to making the change, he was failing most of his classes. He finished the year on high honor roll.
Honestly, the only concern we even have is whether or not she'll be organized enough to do it. This is a weakness for her. But, I also think this might force her to do a better job of that.
1 person likes this
@Michellekidwell (29416)
• Sonora, California
3 Jun 19
@srhelmer It sounds like it’ll definitely be beneficial for her!
@srhelmer (7029)
• Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
3 Jun 19
I honestly believe, within 20 years, most school districts will wind up going this route. It's getting expensive to maintain buildings and there often isn't enough in the budget to hire enough quality teachers. A virtual climate, among other things, gives school districts the ability to share teachers.
Fortunately for us, Wisconsin has accepted the virtual setting as a legitimate way to educate kids. This allowed us to make the change under open enrollment at no cost to us.
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