From: “Rebecca”

To: learn-usa.com

Subject: I'm a K12 User, and I Read Your Article in newswithviews.com

Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 11:04:59 -0400

Dear Lynn: Thank you for your recent article. It was quite disturbing on many levels. I am familiar with K12, since I purchase it independently (we're not part of a Virtual Academy) for my daughter.

My daughter has used K12 for a year, and is just beginning first grade. We are generally extremely impressed with the quality of this curriculum. I don't use the math or the music portions (we ordered those as part of the kindergarten package, but I didn't care for them). My daughter has learned a tremendous amount from K12; the geography/history and science lessons are especially good. The literature selections are mostly classic stories (though I'm finding that the first grade selections contain a lot of "magic" references, which is pretty common in schools nowadays), and the stories are covered thoughtfully and thoroughly with questions, acting-out opportunities, etc.

I understand what you said about the School to Work program and how Mr. Bennett could be a part of it. I had never heard that before, but I believe you. I also am well aware that enrolling in a Virtual Academy is akin to being part of a public school. However, I have found K12 to be a challenging, interesting curriculum, and not watered down at all. It far and away beats every homeschool curriculum I have ever looked it. How does this square up with not wanting children to be educated? Do you think Mr. Bennett was trying to fake people out with his book "The Educated Child?"

Here is an observation I have made from reading the Yahoo chat room on K12. Most of the mothers there have children who were public school students but are now in a Virtual Academy. What I am seeing is that their hearts are being turned more and more toward their children as they work with them at home. I really believe that most of them would never again enroll their child in a regular public school again after working one-on-one with them. And if push were to come to shove, these moms would abandon the virtual school and become private homeschoolers. That, at least, is one benefit that is coming from the Virtual School. I don't believe these moms would have thought twice about homeschooling if they had not first gotten their feet wet by participating in the V.A.

One point someone made on the "Well-Trained Mind" chat room after reading your article was: "What about other curricula, such as Calvert, that are also being sold in the Virtual Academy realm? Why is this author just picking on K12?" I would be interesting in hearing your answer.

Thank you again for your interesting article. There is much in it to make me pause and think.

Sincerely,

Rebecca

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