Post 5

Should Public Schools Be Required to Offer Online K-12 Education? (Feb. 2009)
By John Adsit and Tom Layton

John Adsit argues that the offer for online K-12 education should be required. He points out that much of what we think of as high school education today has gone largely unchanged since the late 1800s, which allowed little room for the various forms of learners we know exist today.

Adsit argues that making sure an online education for students is available helps to ensure that all children are able to get the most out of education. Such education also allows for students to take courses online that they would otherwise not have access to, like advanced coursework or foreign languages. In addition, students who move around often are provided with a continous form of education. Students who have time contraints, are hospitalized,homschooled, or have much of their time dedicated to travel often are also able to keep up with schoolwork this way.

Tom Layton disagrees. While he does like the idea of making classes available online to all student, he believes the concept falls short of being law worthy. Layton argues that such a measure would likely go unfunded, leaving schools in violation of such a law, with no way to cmply. Instead, provate corporations would utilize these programs, stealing children, and thus revenue away from pubic schools.

I could easily see more online education being used in the K-12 setting in teh future. However, I doubt it will have a terible large enfluence on most public schools. insetad, I believe public schools will utulize more online options, while still requireing in-class participation. After all, face-to-face interaction is an imporrttant part of education which purely online environments do not allow.