Every good parent wants the best for their children – to receive the best education possible, to achieve success and stability, to live a long life and to one day have a family of their own. It is impossible to control the events that occur and the problems and challenges every child faces throughout the course of their lives, but what parents can do is put them on the right track to success. One way to do that is through their education.
Schools of any sort, be it public, private, or online, have advantages and disadvantages, and depending on your child, situation, and other factors one or more of these options may not be the best for your child. Deciding how your child is educated is a very important decision and should be thought about carefully. In this article, I would like to discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of online schooling as opposed to your child going to a public or private school.
Between television, cellphones, music, internet, and the growing number of ways to communicate, society is changing and children are changing with it. The simple days of childhood are gone and kids are growing up with technologies never heard of in the 70s or 80s, or even the 90s.
Phones and social networks, while seemingly harmless, have exposed children to new dangers – contact details, photos, and other information can be used to stalk, humiliate, harm, or harass your child; they can be used to arrange attacks or parties; and they can influence bad behavior online and offline. Television also poses problems as more teen shows are being produced that talk about “dealing with parents”, dating, and relationships. Television shows in general are showing more adult content from swearing to sex, to drugs and alcohol. Television is only one of the many things that can influence how your child thinks and what they believe to be acceptable behavior. Children then take these thoughts and altered moral values with them when they are put in a school environment. Naturally they share their thoughts and feelings with their friends, spreading these ideas which may be accepted by others. While there is no way to 100% protect your child from being exposed to these ideas, online schooling may prevent some of the ideas from reaching your child and enable you to have some control over who your child socializes with.
A majority of public schools have had to put in place a number of security measures to protect students and faculty from tragic events like what happened at Columbine. Some schools require children to have mesh backpacks, adhere to strict schedules, or undergo inspections. Do you want your child undergoing such treatment? Another issue is that public schools have been forced to cut back expenses and require parents to pay for lots of school supplies. Classes also have been growing in size and teachers are less able to provide your child with the attention they need. There is also the issue of germs – the more populated the school, the more germs your child will be exposed to and bring into the home.
Online schools do not have to worry about enforcing such security measures. Parents don’t have to buy so many school supplies. Your child can get help with topics and assignments online through the online school system and external resources. Your child will not be forced into a crowded school environment and therefore will be less likely to bring home sicknesses to your family.
“Even if I want to enroll my child into an online school, won’t it cost a lot of money?” NO, no it doesn’t have to! There are many online public schools across the nation that offer free tuition and learning materials. There are also many online private schools, you can even opt to enroll your child in individual courses – but these options are not free and tuition can cost thousands of dollars. Regardless of which you choose, your child will receive the same, if not better education by attending an online school.
Many parents are afraid that online schooling will harm their child’s social development, but that is not usually the case as there many of the online schools hold events for students and parents to attend, as well as provide various ways students can communicate with each other.
Despite the benefits of online schooling, it isn’t for everyone. Your child will be required to do homework and testing just like they were inside a classroom. They will also be expected to spend about 7 to 8 hours a day studying the usual subjects in the standard curriculum in public schools. While your child will have a teacher, parents are expected to play a strong role, spending time helping their children learn the material. There will also be times where the student must take assessment tests at a physical location and will require transportation to attend.
Some children learn better when in a classroom where they feel obligated to do their work and participate in class activities. Some children when taken out of that environment may become distracted by their toys, games, television, etc. inside the home, so they will require a parent or guardian to supervise and help them.
Another issue to consider is that physical education, music, and other extra curricular classes are not usually covered by online schooling. If you child wishes to study these subjects, they will need to join a local club or team that will provide them with a similar experience.
Online schools are growing in popularity and for good reason. If you are considering online schooling then you need to weight the positives and the negatives. Contact different online schools in your state and attend an event or two and talk with other parents. Read through the different rules and requirements, as well as the curriculum offered through the various online school options and find the one best suited for your child.
If you would like more information about online schooling, a great place to start is www.k12.com.