1. AGAINST VIRTUAL SCHOOLS Courtney Fahey Section 001

2. The Argument  The argument of whether virtual schools would be better or worse in order to educate people from Kindergarten through 12 th grade is ongoing between school officials, state officials, and parents. The answer is, NO virtual schools are not better than traditional schools.  The argument of whether virtual schools would be better or worse in order to educate people from Kindergarten through 12 th grade is ongoing between school officials, state officials, and parents. The answer is, NO virtual schools are not better than traditional schools.

3. The Companies AND

4. The Companies  These two companies are “for – profit” companies. This means that they are businesses that want to make a profit. They want to suck in students however they can so they can make more money unlike traditional schools that, yes need money, - but – are there to focus on the well – being and education of their students. Virtual schools actually take money from traditional public schools in order to enrich their private companies and their students are still not measuring up to public school standards.

5. The Teachers  Virtual school teachers are paid significantly less than traditional school teachers  Virtual school teachers tend to live far distances from the people that they are teaching  Virtual school teachers have to be on call at almost all hours of the day  This includes weekdays AND weekends  Although many teachers Skype with their students, it is just not the same as physically being in a classroom  Virtual school teachers are paid significantly less than traditional school teachers  Virtual school teachers tend to live far distances from the people that they are teaching  Virtual school teachers have to be on call at almost all hours of the day  This includes weekdays AND weekends  Although many teachers Skype with their students, it is just not the same as physically being in a classroom

6. The Students  No social interaction like traditional students  Most students need a blended environment  They have to sit in front of a computer all day every day of the school week  Sitting in front of the computer can cause eye problems as well as joint problems and muscle problems  Sitting in front of a computer all day could also lead to technology addiction  Students may also not adapt to being able to function without a computer  No social interaction like traditional students  Most students need a blended environment  They have to sit in front of a computer all day every day of the school week  Sitting in front of the computer can cause eye problems as well as joint problems and muscle problems  Sitting in front of a computer all day could also lead to technology addiction  Students may also not adapt to being able to function without a computer

7. The Parents  Students home all day every day  Parents do not get a break from students  Parents need a job where they can work at home and supervise the student or be a “stay at home” parent  Being a “stay at home” parent is not always practical  If parent cannot stay at home all the time, that means the student is unsupervised  Students home all day every day  Parents do not get a break from students  Parents need a job where they can work at home and supervise the student or be a “stay at home” parent  Being a “stay at home” parent is not always practical  If parent cannot stay at home all the time, that means the student is unsupervised

8. When a child is enrolled in virtual school there are no …

9. School Activities  All of the things offered at most traditional schools such as clubs, dances, sports, art classes, music classes that are enriching to students’ minds and social skills are completely left out when attending virtual school. These students enrolled in virtual schools are missing out on the opportunities that other children and students are getting. It is harder to make friends and for the students who want to take part in these activities generally cannot.

10. Grades and Evaluations  Virtual schools just don’t measure up to traditional schools  Traditional schools on average have higher grades and test scores compared to the grades and test scores of virtual students  Virtual schools have been academically rated unacceptable  Virtual school has also been noted to not meet the optimal model for school  Virtual schools just don’t measure up to traditional schools  Traditional schools on average have higher grades and test scores compared to the grades and test scores of virtual students  Virtual schools have been academically rated unacceptable  Virtual school has also been noted to not meet the optimal model for school

11. Transferring Credits  A big problem with these schools is the fact that a lot of credits just do not transfer to other schools depending if they want to switch out to a traditional school. This means that course requirements for virtual schools are not up to par with the traditional school requirements. Students attending virtual school may be missing out on a lot of information that their traditional school counterparts are receiving. They may fall behind academically compared to their traditional school peers.

12. Miscellaneous Facts  Graduation rates just are not the same at virtual schools like they are at traditional schools  It is easier to fall behind when enrolled in virtual schools  Falling behind can lead to not graduating  It is easier to cheat when there is no teacher around to watch you  Classrooms provide physical, tangible tools to use to learn  Not all classes can be provided in an online classroom (ex. gym class, art class, etc.)  There is no special education provided for students with a learning disability offered in a virtual environment  Graduation rates just are not the same at virtual schools like they are at traditional schools  It is easier to fall behind when enrolled in virtual schools  Falling behind can lead to not graduating  It is easier to cheat when there is no teacher around to watch you  Classrooms provide physical, tangible tools to use to learn  Not all classes can be provided in an online classroom (ex. gym class, art class, etc.)  There is no special education provided for students with a learning disability offered in a virtual environment

13. Summary  Teachers are not physically there to help students out  Children are not learning in a blended environment  Students are not getting enough social interaction  Students are receiving lower grades on average when enrolled in virtual school  Virtual school has been deemed to not meet the optimal model of schooling  Virtual school also has lower graduation rates than traditional school  Parents need to be very involved and need to supervise their students  It is easy to fall behind as well as cheat when enrolled in virtual school  Teachers are not physically there to help students out  Children are not learning in a blended environment  Students are not getting enough social interaction  Students are receiving lower grades on average when enrolled in virtual school  Virtual school has been deemed to not meet the optimal model of schooling  Virtual school also has lower graduation rates than traditional school  Parents need to be very involved and need to supervise their students  It is easy to fall behind as well as cheat when enrolled in virtual school

14. If you want to learn more about the cons of virtual schools … http://dailycollegian.com/2011/03/10/virtual-school-is-realistically-a-catastrophe/ CLICK HERE

15. SOURCES "Discussing the Pros and Cons of High School Online Learning." IVirtualSchool. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.. "The Pros and Cons of Sending Your Child to Virtual School - Babble." Babble. 2014. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.. “The Reality of Virtual Schools | GreatKids." GreatKids. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.. "Virtual School Is Realistically a Catastrophe." The Massachusetts Daily Collegian RSS. 2011. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.. "Virtual Schools Bring Real Concerns About Quality." NPR. NPR. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.. "Discussing the Pros and Cons of High School Online Learning." IVirtualSchool. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.. "The Pros and Cons of Sending Your Child to Virtual School - Babble." Babble. 2014. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.. “The Reality of Virtual Schools | GreatKids." GreatKids. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.. "Virtual School Is Realistically a Catastrophe." The Massachusetts Daily Collegian RSS. 2011. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.. "Virtual Schools Bring Real Concerns About Quality." NPR. NPR. Web. 29 Mar. 2016..