Would You Put Your Kid In An Online School?

Published September 10, 2010

I tried an online class once. Never did it again. Too easy to, well, skip class.

A baby interacts with another baby using a laptop and a video camera. (Tyron Francis/Flickr)

Yo, you wanna go to the virtual prom with me? (Tyron Francis/Flickr)

That was virtual college, though. Would you put your child in front of a computer screen for virtual first grade?

That is now an option for students in the Greenfield public school system. It’s called the Massachusetts Virtual Academy, and we’re discussing it today at 3 p.m. on Radio Boston.

Enrollment is open to any child in the state for K-8. Only Greenfield residents can “attend” the online high school. The academy’s FAQ covers some of the obvious questions, such as:

  • How much time do students spend on the computer? (20-30 percent of the time)
  • How do students interact socially? (students are invited to frequent outings)
  • Will this program intrude into my home? (no home visits required)

The program is meant for the super-gifted and for kids with severe emotional problems.

As I have written here before, I was bullied relentlessly, particularly after I made the excruciating transition from a private Lutheran school to an inner-city public school in sixth grade. I considered home school for a time. But I’m so glad that didn’t happen.

I am curious to know what you all think. Should kids just “work it out” alongside their peers on the playground? Or is virtual school a godsend for kids with serious developmental troubles or disabilities?

On Radio Boston, we’re talking with a parent whose 8-year-old and 10-year-old will be “attending” the new virtual school.