Needs of Society

The needs of the community and of society dictate the teaching of the populace. For each community the goals and needs are to be supported and met by those entering the workforce with the skills and talents to satisfy the ideals of the society in which they live. These skills are the responsibility of the parents, schools and students.
If we are moving to an educational system where one can acquire a foundation of knowledge and social growth through technology, then must teach our students the benefits of technology in learning and work. We cannot see 5, 10, 20 years ahead. yet, by having students learn on-line, we are proposing that this form of learning will be valuable and commonplace in the near future.
What concerns me is that youth in our schools are still being molded and forged. They need social and interpersonal skills for success in today's business and today's society. By forcing them to learn on-line, we take away another opportunity to learn face-to-face interaction. Do we envision a complete college degree on-line without ever having to stand in front of a group of people to inform them of your findings? Even if they present speeches and assignments on-line, the idioms of face, voice, and body language need to be taught. Students need to be taught how body language, voice tone, and word choice make a difference in the message being sent.
I understand that computers for Idaho students will save money, but we will be asking a 15-year old to go to her room, log on, and do history? Really? Does she have the discipline to stay focused and complete the assignments without supervision? If you sent me to a Porsche showroom and told me that I had 45 minutes to count all the ceiling tiles I probably would not give you a very accurate number...
Are we preparing our students for success in the business world by having them do studies on-line? Are the needs of the Treasure Valley and the State of Idaho being addressed by providing our students with larger classes and less social interaction? Knowledge without grace is not very effective. Problem solving skills and group work will better allow our students to find success in the workforce and in their personal lives.