Florida pays a fortune for what? 

The Palm Beach Post highlights the recent Florida Virtual Schools fiasco.

"Florida's 'virtual school' pilot program has crashed, and the Legislature should not renew it. Tweaks won't fix the problems, which have included companies trading on political influence, lobbyists who misrepresented potential savings and an education commissioner who ignored the law.
Despite all those failings, Rep. Joe Pickens, R-Palatka, will seek an extension of the program, which this year paid $4.8 million in state money to two private companies. One, Virginia-based Florida Virtual Academy, is linked to GOP darling William Bennett, education secretary under President Reagan. The other is Maryland-based Connections Academy."

Now, back in the days when I liked the idea of doing 'school at home' I would have moved to Florida to benefit from this idea. Having had a little experience now I believe it is a complete waste of money. The thought that kids will sit for hours looking at a computer screen working is ridiculous, but not as ridiculous as the idea that their parents will make them do it.

Also this kind of failure only gives more ammo to the 'Get all the kids in school all the time brigade' and that is a bad, bad thing.

We use a virtual school called "Google" and find that more than sufficient. $4,800,000 v $0, which gives best value for money?

Florida, sort it out!
Noted at 7:52 AM. |