E-based Education...Part I

Considering a cyber school?
Why or why not?
What's wrong with public schools?  Or private schools?
Home-based education is nothing new...the religious right first made it popular in the 80s and 90s, wanting to home-school their children, and it was a request that districts in many cases, could not deny, as religious freedom is protected by our beloved U.S. Constitution.
Prior to that, homebound instruction was limited to students either physically or mentally challenged to the point where they could not function in a typical classroom environment.
Today, that's given way to cyber-education.  And I hear a variety of reasons behind it.
More parents are advocating cyber schools and other forms of online education.  While intentions may be good, here's a few reasons why it isn't.
"Book smarts" aren't enough to function in today's workplace.  That's right, what we call "street smarts" are just as important, if not more.
And you only learn those in a social setting.  It's the stuff that can't be taught from a textbook nor graded fairly if it was.
You may recall a scene in the original "The Karate Kid", where Ralph Macchio is witnessed by Randee Heller throwing his BMX bike in a dumpster, with his bullied character, Daniel LaRusso, stating that he doesn't understand 'the rules'.  Randee's character Lucille takes him home and says 'we'll figure out the rules'.
The Rules.
That social hierarchy that separates the classes of kids, and makes the difference between getting to class on time or having your jockey shorts run up the flagpole against your will.
Yes, there are standards against bullying.  Kids are subject to harassment either live or in person.  Some are the bullies while others are bullied.
Either way, locking your kid up in the house because you think you're 'protecting' them from the outside world, isn't doing them any favors.
Unless you want them jobless, playing video games and living in your basement well into their thirties.
Your child needs to function in a typical social setting...that means a setting that you, as a parent, have no control over.  That includes adverse conditions that require quick thinking and actions.  Things that one day might save your child's life.
That means your child mixing with different socio-economic groups.  They need to see things from a perspective other than their own, and be willing to embrace the thoughts and ideas of others. 
In short, realizing that life isn't always fair.  We don't always get our own way or what we want when we want it.
Comedian Redd Foxx best described his relationship with his wife in this manner:
She says..."I want what I want when I want it!"
He says..."You're gonna get what I got when I got it."
This carries over into adulthood and the business world.
Lest anyone accuse me of bias, I'm going to tackle the other side of this issue next week.
You've already heard the cons.  We'll address the pros a week from today.


NEXT WEEK:  The Pros of Cyber Education