Does Virtual School Work

By Bob Branco

I always believe that when we are educated, we should be in the same room with the teacher. This type of direct personal contact is very beneficial. It worked for me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. For one thing, you get to have all of your questions answered immediately, and will also get a detailed explanation from the teacher if you ask for it. It is a very personal approach, and we are all treated as individuals in the classroom.

Even though I boast about personal education, there is a trend toward additional online education and virtual school. While I understand the convenience of taking courses on the internet, I also wonder why it’s so successful. You can’t ask any questions because no one is there. If you can’t access a problem because of a computer glitch, your teacher isn’t going to be at your side to help you fix it. If you are in a virtual classroom and you have a question about a calculation, you can’t get the proper guidance right away. It’s almost as though you have to take chances all the time while you study without an instructor present. You can’t be corrected immediately.

Aside from the problems I just mentioned, there is no fellowship when going to school online. Students can’t consult with one another or listen to someone’s suggestion which makes immediate sense. The teacher can’t encourage discussions among students which can prove to be very affective. I always find that in a group setting, there is such chemistry that everyone in the group is benefitting at the same time. This doesn’t happen on line.

I realize that we have the technology to make virtual school a reality, but is it really the right way to educate? I don’t think it is. It is true that we still retain information which is available online. However, we don’t get to discuss it, question it, practice it and apply it as much as in a traditional classroom. I’m sure that not everyone shares my opinion, and I respect that. We all have our own feelings, and that’s what makes us individuals. It’s because we are individuals that we should be allowed to express our individuality to a teacher, because despite what some modern educators believe, one size does not fit all.

(Originally published in Word Matters, www.ernestdempsey.com)

About the Author

Bob Branco resides in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and is a self-published author of four books. He is a community organizer, tutors persons with visual impairments, and has written columns for local and international organizations. Bob’s web site is