Posted in Homeschooling
It was a few weeks into the school year and I was talking with a mom. "Where do your kids go to school?" she asked.
"We homeschool both of them," I replied.
"Oh, we tried homeschool and it didn't work," said the mom, dismissively.
"Really? What happened?"
"Well, we went through a virtual academy and my son..."
Immediately, I had to keep my eyes from glazing over. Clearly, this mom didn't know the difference between homeschooling and public school at home. It seems that there are companies that are banking on the ignorance of this mom and thousands like her who are dissatisfied with the public school system but are unaware of what homeschooling is really all about.
Google AdSense is everywhere on the web these days. They have plenty of ads in the margins of my window on most sites. It's quite ingenious: a web-bot scans the page for key words related to the advertisers and puts in relevant ads, raising their click-through rate.
I appreciate the fact that they are not flashing a big, bright banner telling me I've won something (when I haven't) or putting up obnoxious pictures asking me if I think Bush is a good President (as if they cared). However, what I do mind is when COVA, the Colorado Online Virtual Academy places an ad like this one. See if you can tell what's wrong with this picture:
That's right! Why are they advertising under the banner of Colorado Homeschooling? Their own site states, "COVA is a public charter school..." They are not an association or a support group. They're not even a homeschool "umbrella school." They're not Colorado homeschooling! To clairify the difference, I'm bringing forward part of a post I put up in May 2006 and I even included it in my FAQ section.
Obviously, they're not homeschooling or even in support of homeschooling. Why then does COVA advertise under this banner? Because they want to receive the public funds (tax dollars) that go for your child's education. "Free textbooks! Free computers!" No, it isn't free. It's public money, and the books and computers don't take up much of the funds that a charter school is entitled to for signing up your child. Where does that money go? That's the $10,000 question, isn't it? Until someone changes the policy, COVA will continue to suck people into their virtual money machine.
"We homeschool both of them," I replied.
"Oh, we tried homeschool and it didn't work," said the mom, dismissively.
"Really? What happened?"
"Well, we went through a virtual academy and my son..."
Immediately, I had to keep my eyes from glazing over. Clearly, this mom didn't know the difference between homeschooling and public school at home. It seems that there are companies that are banking on the ignorance of this mom and thousands like her who are dissatisfied with the public school system but are unaware of what homeschooling is really all about.
Google AdSense is everywhere on the web these days. They have plenty of ads in the margins of my window on most sites. It's quite ingenious: a web-bot scans the page for key words related to the advertisers and puts in relevant ads, raising their click-through rate.
I appreciate the fact that they are not flashing a big, bright banner telling me I've won something (when I haven't) or putting up obnoxious pictures asking me if I think Bush is a good President (as if they cared). However, what I do mind is when COVA, the Colorado Online Virtual Academy places an ad like this one. See if you can tell what's wrong with this picture:
That's right! Why are they advertising under the banner of Colorado Homeschooling? Their own site states, "COVA is a public charter school..." They are not an association or a support group. They're not even a homeschool "umbrella school." They're not Colorado homeschooling! To clairify the difference, I'm bringing forward part of a post I put up in May 2006 and I even included it in my FAQ section. Q: We have our child in a virtual academy. Isn't that Homeschooling?
A: Unfortunately, no, it's not. That is what is called "public school at home." Although many parents choose this option for very valid and good reasons, such as wanting more time with their children or pulling them out of a social situation, it differs from homeschooling in two very important ways.
First, the curriculum is determined by the state, not the parent. This essentially turns the education of the child over to the state. The student must learn whatever the state curriculum contains. This puts Christian parents in the unenviable position of teaching evolution from the time the state introduces it. Also, the parents are locked into the curriculum for their child and may not remove any part, even if the curriculum is unsuitable to the child's learning style. If the child falls off pace, they must catch up with the rest of the class instead of adjusting the school year or the pacing. In reality, the only benefit a virtual academy shares with homeschooling is the obvious fact that the child is physically home, not in a school and therefore learning is done with family involvement without the same threats to your child's safety.
Second, the public or charter school is receiving state funding for the child. This is crucial to understand what's happening. Virtual academies receive most or all of the funding that a public school would receive per student, while the student sees only a fraction of that money in the form of a computer and a curriculum and other such items. The money that most schools use to pay for classrooms, light, heat, air conditioning, plumbing, lunches, and the various other parts of the physical plant costs are offset by...you guessed it...mom and dad. Where do the other thousands of dollars per student go? Regardless, public funds are being used and parents do not direct the funds or the learning.
A: Unfortunately, no, it's not. That is what is called "public school at home." Although many parents choose this option for very valid and good reasons, such as wanting more time with their children or pulling them out of a social situation, it differs from homeschooling in two very important ways.
First, the curriculum is determined by the state, not the parent. This essentially turns the education of the child over to the state. The student must learn whatever the state curriculum contains. This puts Christian parents in the unenviable position of teaching evolution from the time the state introduces it. Also, the parents are locked into the curriculum for their child and may not remove any part, even if the curriculum is unsuitable to the child's learning style. If the child falls off pace, they must catch up with the rest of the class instead of adjusting the school year or the pacing. In reality, the only benefit a virtual academy shares with homeschooling is the obvious fact that the child is physically home, not in a school and therefore learning is done with family involvement without the same threats to your child's safety.
Second, the public or charter school is receiving state funding for the child. This is crucial to understand what's happening. Virtual academies receive most or all of the funding that a public school would receive per student, while the student sees only a fraction of that money in the form of a computer and a curriculum and other such items. The money that most schools use to pay for classrooms, light, heat, air conditioning, plumbing, lunches, and the various other parts of the physical plant costs are offset by...you guessed it...mom and dad. Where do the other thousands of dollars per student go? Regardless, public funds are being used and parents do not direct the funds or the learning.
Obviously, they're not homeschooling or even in support of homeschooling. Why then does COVA advertise under this banner? Because they want to receive the public funds (tax dollars) that go for your child's education. "Free textbooks! Free computers!" No, it isn't free. It's public money, and the books and computers don't take up much of the funds that a charter school is entitled to for signing up your child. Where does that money go? That's the $10,000 question, isn't it? Until someone changes the policy, COVA will continue to suck people into their virtual money machine.
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Posted by Eric Holcombe
