Why Cyber Charter Schools are here to stay.

Cyber charter schools or online charter schools are in a bit of a turmoil at the moment, as different States see them as a soft touch when it comes to cutting back on educational spending. I would like them to take a step back and consider the reasons I would like online charter schools to remain.

1) Teachers use the latest technology: If the only way you can chat or communicate with a child is via the Internet, then obviously all the child’s scores will also be on the Internet – in a traditional school the results are in a teachers desk or folder and everyone is scared that if they publish the results – more than one parent will see it.

2) Complete transparency in the system: If you are online – you can monitor every action your pupil or the teacher makes, making it impossible for a child to sit at the back of the class for long. Also you will be able to collect evidence on both the teachers and the pupils conduct and are in a position to ask questions. In a traditional classroom everything is ethereal – i.e. there are no real records on how often a child is asked a question or if they actively respond to questions.

3)More safe and secure : It is much harder to bully online in cyber charter schools if everything is recorded and parents have full access to transcripts. Also the children have a chance to contribute without being harassed or teased about their abilities.

4)The children have a better social life : I have notice while building this site, how much emphasis is placed on children in cyber charter schools getting to know their peers and other teachers outside the lessons. I guess this is because every time they are asked to join and share something, it is a treat – unlike it a traditional school where to join a club you need to get a late bus home or make choices about who you will see there or who you want to spend after school time with.

5) Charter schools are run by the state: You can be confident that your child will be taught precisely what is stated in the curriculum with no undue racial or religious undertones. I once attended a traditional state school that had been taken over by some fundamental Christians – it was scary what they were teaching to special needs kids. In an online environment, a parent can read and see everything going on and can put a stop to it immediately.

6) Everyone is given the tools they need to learn: The joy and envy of cyber schools is that every child is pre-equipped with the technology they need to use to learn. I have also learnt how many online cyber schools also have access to the very latest text books – and of course the children do not need to spend time sharing them. This means that every child is given an equal right to learn and achieve – regardless of the family background.

7) Learning flexibly: Each child needs to log 30 hours of study a week. The system also stops them from progressing too far ahead of the pack in terms of sitting down one day and completing an entire Maths unit in one sitting. As the amount of time and the timetable is so flexible, children will be able to complete their tasks at a time when their body clocks are at their optimum, be in the morning or in the afternoon.

8) Cyber schools introduce competition: When everyone was in traditional schools the level of competition was limited. Now that a traditional school needs to keep their own pupils motivated and enjoying learning – or the pupil will switch to a cyber school – it keeps the teaching and learning fresh. It is great that traditional schools also have to keep their doors open to children from cyber charter schools so that the pupils still can enjoy practical tasks such as singing and painting together.

9) Setting up and expanding cyber schools are simple: In quite a few States, I have noticed that traditional schools are now offering a part cyber experience, so that schools which lack certain subjects are able to let children learn the subject online. As the cyber charter schools develop over time, they simply keep growing without needing new premises.

10) Children do more PE at home: There was a concern that children who sit in front of a computer all day would be less fit than those in a traditional school – so they often have to complete an hour a day fitness training with their parents (a certain win – win) situation for both the parents and the child. Ironically, as the traditionally taught children sit at desks all day, then are ferried home by bus or car, I suspect the traditionally taught child, with 2 45 minutes sport slots per week are less fit than their cyber charter school friends!

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