The Case Against Online Learning

Governor Wolf of Pennsylvania cancelled all schools for the remainder of the year. I'm seeing all kinds of people assuming it's a great solution for everyone. Here are some sobering hard facts that can't be ignored. There are lots of students whom it would be impossible to school online (1) Students of plumbing, masonry, car repair, electronics, electrical installation, carpenters, machinist, food preparation and whole host of others in the vocational tech fields of study whom are SOL.

(2) Schools labs like biology, chemistry, computer sciences and others are also being denied to students who require them to pass.

(3) Then there are those seniors who are in drama, sports, musical training, etc. which getting into college depends on their accomplishments in high school.

(4) Then there are the homes without service to internet.

(5) So too colleges (including medical) have shut down requiring students to go online. Many which require students to have hands on experiences in order to obtain a degree in their specialty.Bottom line going online is a lousy way to educate. It comes at cost to those who are our brightest and most skilled future workers. The very ones we need to compete with the rest of the world.

What Would I Recommend
(1) Bringing back 1/4 at a time for one week at a time on a rotating basis over the next 4 months. This way at least they'd have some opportunity to get back in school for the required hands on training they require. Better then none at all. But only to those who require it of course.

(2) For those without internet, printed assignments they could pick up and drop off at school. Perhaps a homework hotline for students who need help with their printed assignments. Everyone has a phone or know someone who does.

(3) Eventually parents will be required to return to work making it impossible to watch or work with their younger students. Open a few classrooms limited to 5 or 10 students each with desks widely spaced. The rest stacked in a corner. Strictly limited to only those students' parents who have no other options. Considering some parents only work a few days a week they wouldn't need to exercise this option everyday. Of course I would require parents to verify this by some kind of paperwork from their employer.

(4) The final option would be for students (by them and their parents own choosing) to repeat the grade they were currently in when school was suspended. College students should be offered tuition free the last two months classes were suspended and credited for the unused lab, food and housing fees.

Face it none of these alternatives I offered are good ones, but we really do need to think-outside-the-box in these troubled times. So far I'm not seeing it.