There is now a constant debate as to the validity of home schooling in the realm of cyberspace. Before it really couldn’t be an issue simply because the parent has sovereign choice over the matter. Not even Child Protective Services can charge truancy if there’s a reality that parents are actively partaking on the education of their children without the actual classroom. Enter: the Internet. Now the playing field has suddenly changed. And that’s why there’s a debate. Is virtual a viable option or not? Does it improve home schooling, or not?
The natural fact is it depends on the child. That’s how it always had been with home schooling in the past. Some children are geared for it; some are not. Even better, some parents are able to adapt to it; and some simply can’t. The stress and pressure of not only parenting your child but EDUCATING them can sometimes be overbearing. Even in this digital age, putting your child through school ONLINE can still feel like home schooling. But there is an important benefit.
Going virtual provides a framework for the parent. A regular home-schooling mom or dad has to do all the legwork; but a child enrolled in a virtual academy has all the legwork done already. What happens is the parent simply becomes a learning coach that oversees what the child does on his or her own time on the computer. In a way, it is in fact easier.
The exact same benefit, however, can also be a negative. The one pro of home schooling was that the parent is literally in CHARGE. What the virtual classroom does is take that away while also removing the natural benefit any other parent has of giving time to take care of duties around the house. Something any parent appreciates.
And there’s your bottom line: how do you live your life? The answer will determine how your child’s education will be conducted: virtual or regular classroom?