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I switched my children to Oregon Connections Academy because we had already spent 9 frustrating years in traditional public school, which we found to be ineffective and unresponsive to parental concerns.  Classroom distractions and badly behaved children were impossible for the teachers to control - there is no discipline any more in a public school classroom.  A friend who is a substitute teacher in middle school told me the other day "you just can't get the kids to shut up".  After half a year now in ORCA, both my kids love it, they are doing great and feel like they are finally getting an education and learning something.  My son, now in 9th grade, is finally caught up in math, which the traditional schools failed to teach him.  Virtual school is not for everyone - there is a big sacrifice on the part of the parent, and not everyone can do what it takes.  But why take away the choice for those kids like mine who would be failing in the traditional schools, whose parents can't afford private school, and who can't be homeschooled because their parents still have to work?  Success in school has been shown to be improved by parental involvement - well, this is how I get involved in my kids education and I will fight for it to remain an option.  It works and the curriculum is fantastic!

posted 2 years, 3 months ago
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