REFORM: Online or out of line?

Public school chief Tom Luna's plan for education reform has me worried, not only for the obvious near term negative impacts, but for the long term implications the requirement of online courses carries.

I'm not against computers, but think about it. First, require all high school Freshman to take one or two online courses now, then up that to several online courses by their senior year. Now that you have established the economic benefits, make it a requirement that all high school level education be online. At that point the state takes over total control of the intellectual development of our children. No need to screen what books are in the school library, or monitor what values our teachers are passing on. No need to worry that our children are not getting the politically correct party line. No need to be concerned that our children may come to logical conclusions that are counter to policies of the government, or even that they will question the policies of the government. Just create online courses that totally comply with what "they" want us to believe, and then ensure that all our children take and pass those online courses.

But be sure not to include the other side of the story. And don't make room for youthful questions, or youthful curiosity. Just "the facts" ma'am, the facts as determined by the state. Be sure children are taught that the only truth is truth according to the state. That the only loyalty is loyalty to the state. Then we will be ready to go out and "rule the world."

BARRIE MacCONNELL

Coeur d'Alene