No system is without its flaws, and, while virtual schools can help fill in the cracks in classroom education, they are not a panacea. Some of the issues reflected in the scenarios that teachers can be faced with involve using virtual schools as replacements for physical classrooms. For example, a student could request a virtual class to avoid having a negative experience, especially if they are acting based on word of mouth, which I have observed occurring during scheduling week. It is vital to bear in mind that different students with different goals, values, and learning modalities and styles will tend to evaluate teachers differently.
One of my favorite high school teachers was a public speaking teacher, who helped me develop my voice and learn to open up, which empowered me to pursue a profession where I substitute-taught in 13 districts and well over 50 different schools in my first year out of college. My sister did not like that teacher because my sister was already out of her shell and didn't like how bossy the teacher was.
Conversely, my sister loved her 3rd grade teacher, who was a frenetic, impulsive, and lighthearted teacher, while I couldn't stand that same teacher, because I needed the comfort of structure and the knowledge that she was going to protect me from the bullies and respect my voice. It certainly seems like these perspectives should be taken into account by parents and districts before the students make the impulsive decision to select a teacher and instructional delivery style that is unknown over one that is presumed to be negative.
Jeremy,
ReplyDeleteYou have a great point. The teacher guiding you to become a better speaker is something you cannot do online. You need the physical presence and that touch of reality. On the other hand, when we talk about teachers we dislike and try to find an alternative in online education, I think we are going too soft on the students. I have mentioned this before in my comments before, but I am repeating. I have heard that it is a Michigan Law that a parent or a student can choose the teacher. Parents can pull out a child from a teacher's classroom and request the school district put them in a different classroom. If it is good idea or not, is a great topic for debate.
Sneha
I agree that not all teachers are a good fit for all students. As adults, we have to make adjustments. With that being said, you and your sister's needs were different but both of you survived and learned from it. As an educator, I have experienced first hand how picky parents can be so my concern is not for the student but for the well being of the teacher. It is not pleasant to have an irritating parent breathing down your neck for 10 months. On the other hand, what Sneha states is true. Students are soft. We live in a world where students are allowed to make decisions that were once made only by adults. It would indeed be a great topic for debate.
DeleteParents do have the right to appeal placement decisions that have been made by counselors based on the student's requested courses and the teacher's availability. As a teacher hired just before the school year, one of my initial challenges was keeping my classes together through Count Day. If the students did not want to stay in my class, the position would have been cut before I even had a chance.
DeleteThe situation in the prompt specified that the parents sought the online school as an alternative to a particular teacher, which seems petty and could lead to unforeseen consequences. It comes down to the issue I raised: is it better to have the student in a class the parents are considered he might not like, or to roll the dice and go with an unknown online teacher for an unknown online school, the format of which may or may not mesh with the student's sensibilities.
This is a very interesting discussion. I really believe that if we make students more aware of how easily they can enroll in online classes, certain teachers will suffer. I can think of a teacher I know of who is honestly a fairly bad teacher, and all the high achieving students desperately try to avoid his classes. On the other hand, I also know of a few amazing teachers who have reputations as very tough and maybe even mean, but I have observed their students over the course of a semester go from somewhat wary to absolutely adoring. These teachers often become favorites. So I understand that there are sometimes good reasons to avoid a teacher, but if that decision is made too easy, students might miss out on wonderful experiences, and great teachers would lose students.
DeleteIdeally, students would only be allowed to avoid a specific teacher if they gave a solid reason (he's my next door neighbor; his assessments rely heavily on math and I have a light learning disability and need a concept based course; her classes almost end the semester a few units behind other ca) or have already failed the class with that teacher. Then, a qualified school "online enrollment coordinator" could help the student select a course that would best fit their particular needs. This staff member would need a lot of training, and strong knowledge of many courses in the online catalog and/or access to other people with this knowledge.
Unfortunately, denying student or parent choice seems to be against the way Michigan regulations are written. In the prompt situation, I'd really hope the administrator tries their best to "sell" their teacher and the course, but I wouldn't want to be in their shoes!