Berdie, I’m not familiar with ‘cyber-schooling.’ I am familiar with traditional home schooling, and with taking classes online. I don’t know if the Santorum children were plugged into live classes in PA from their house in VA. If that is the case, it’s not an option available in VA. Technology has changed somewhat dramatically since my kids were home-schooled 10+ years ago.
The Santorums could have sent their kids to VA schools had they chosen. Lots of Congressmen and Senators do. But if home-schooling is what the Santorums wanted, and if they consider PA their home, and if this cyber-homeschooling is available through their PA district, why wouldn’t they do that?
Some families, especially very traditional religious families, prefer home-schooling. They don’t want their kids exposed to the ‘culture’ of the public schools. Often the choice has to do with health issues, and certainly the Santorums have had enough of those to deal with. Seems to me parents should be able to decide what’s best for their family and their kids. Even within a family, they might choose to educate one or two at home and send others to the public school, depending on the individual child(ren)’s needs. But it should be the parents’ decision, unless they are unfit parents.
Santorum isn’t my guy, either, but this endless nit-picking on each and every Republican who enters the public arena, especially by other Republicans or conservatives, is getting disgusting.
Like you, I wasn't familiar with cyber-schooling. Heck, back when I was in school (walking to school barefoot in the snow uphill both ways, lol) there was no such thing as home schooling. I looked to see how it worked.
It seems the school in question is a charter school that provides “cyber classes” and requires tuition from the parent. There is a subsidy provided from the school district. From what I could ascertain, the primary issue the Santorums encountered was due to residency requirements. The home in the state must be a primary residence. The home owned in PA was vacant for most of the time and created quite a brou-ha-ha during his last run for senator there.
I know I am not good at explaining things..so that probably sounded about a clear as mud. I was just curious why this had become such an issue, and could in the future.
I completely agree with you about home schooling. I would be loath to send my kids to the public school system in today's world.
So today, I know more about the PA school system than I ever thought I would and hope you haven't minded me sharing that info.