Submitted by John House, Dec 16, 2007 20:21

There will always be a need for a standardized curriculum and tests. Personal teaching has been popular since the First Commonwealth (Israel) or ancient Greece.

There is a new place opening for the person who is driven to excel, for the student with an unusual curiosity, or people with ties to their parents country of origin. The virtual school allows for a diverse and knowledgeable society, starting with youth. It also allows direct mentoring between bona fide experts and students to permit ambition and realistic expectations at the same time.

Let's face another truth: for the unattractive physically, the unpopular or those who are socially unusual, the traditional school can be an unmerited hell. Bullying and ridicule are more common than acne, and the damage can last a lifetime. According to one American Management publication I read, social well being is a greater predictor of academic achievement than IQ.

The computer screen and the chat frame do not care about your race, your zits or if a parent is in prison. It is a very useful alternative window into a person's interest and value.

I hope the Wisconsin Supreme Court sees the virtual academy as a useful and powerful tool in education, one that deserves a place in any serious educational program.

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