Virtual Schools Offer a Modern Option

Online education has been spreading, evolving into such a widespread and accepted idea that the issue is instigating debate amongst those who prefer to stick with traditional schooling and those who are more open to this revolutionary change in the education system.

Some people argue that traditional schooling is more valuable for students because it allows them to build relationships with their peers and teachers. Working with students who have gone through the same experiences as each other not only brings a sense of unity in the classroom, but also improves relationship skills that are important to life beyond high school.

“School is fun,” Northwood High freshman Cecilia Jung told JSR. “I met so many new people and my teachers are very nice. I don’t think I would be able to handle virtual schooling because I like to be around people.”

However, traditional schooling can inculcate students with social stereotypes and hierarchies that can hinder the building of relationships.

William Jang, a junior from Indiana, told JSR, “I switched from online school to public high school recently. It has been pretty hard to adapt to high school because while I was in online school, I didn’t have to worry about how to fit into the cultural norms.”

Additionally, students at virtual schools participate in one-on-one sessions with teachers that allow them to work at their own paces. Online schooling allows for students with specialized talents in music or sports to have more freedom in their schedules so that they could fit their practices into their days. Students are able to learn and do their classwork at any point during the day, whether it be at two in the morning or five in the evening.

In the end, the choice between online schooling and traditional schooling boils down to the special circumstances of every individual.