March 8, 2008
Wisconsin State Journal
Letter to the editor — 3/08/2008
Dear Editor:
My three children attend a public virtual school. My oldest son is in the third grade and his brother and sister (twins) are in kindergarten. This is our third year in the school and we have been thrilled with both the quality of the public school teachers and the course materials.
Our family has children at both ends of the educational spectrum. Both boys are quick learners. Public virtual education allows them to accelerate their studies.
Our daughter has had serious health issues since birth. She is a special needs child who has benefited from learning at home. Her virtual school schedule allows for multiple therapy sessions each week.
My children are neither Democrats nor Republicans. They don't understand why the governor and the Legislature can't reach an agreement that will save their school.
The proposed two-year enrollment freeze now in Senate Bill 396 would keep other Wisconsin families like mine out of Wisconsin's public virtual schools. For families who are struggling with special needs children or who have children where traditional brick and mortar schools don't work, Wisconsin's public virtual schools are a lifesaver.
It would be unconscionable to have one or more of these schools fail because of the lockout period.
Fortunately, Assembly Bill 870 increases the enrollment cap to 1 percent of K-12 students or about 8,700. This reasonable cap would allow for modest growth for virtual public schools. This cap achieves the governor's stated goal of limiting growth while not hurting the schools or Wisconsin's children.
It is time that our governor, Senate and Assembly dust off their dictionaries and look up the meanings of bipartisan, leadership, integrity and virtue. Every child deserves a great education.
Craig Mayo,
Green Bay
http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/letters/276233
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Wisconsin State Journal
Letter: Laptops like books at online schools
March 7, 2008
From reading a recent letter about online schools, it is obvious that the author is against the schools, but it is also apparent he has not done his homework.
A student does not need a computer to participate in a virtual school. The student is given a laptop computer just as students in brick and mortar schools are given books. So let's lay that red herring to rest.
And there is no need for a cap on enrollment to provide time to study the issue. The deadline for enrollment for the next school year has passed, so there is a year available to conduct a study of virtual schools. That should be plenty of time in light of the time it took to study the recent interstate backup.
The posturing by Gov. Jim Doyle is just his way of paying back WEAC for their financial support of his political career. It has nothing to do with providing our children with choices in their educational pursuits.
-- Dennis Crowley, Spring Green
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/opinion/readersviews/276016
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