Virtual schools will come at a price (From The Argus)

Virtual schools will come at a price

9:00am Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Your Argus

In response to the article in The Argus on February 1 about “virtual schools” by Rebecca Evans.

Perhaps virtual schools will lead to virtual school runs, packed lunches and parents evenings but it will more likely lead to children not being given the opportunity to develop social skills, friendships and the skills required to get a job.

Professor Ian Cunningham’s views are idealistic and inaccurate in my opinion and are likely to produce children who lack friends, discipline and the inspiration that you get from good teachers.

I think kids need a break from the inexorable virtual world. The only light at the end of the tunnel is school, where they receive an element of real life.

There are plenty of places to build schools in Brighton and the philosophy that we are totally constricted by the sea and the Downs is, well... virtual.

Jeremy Snelling, Craignair Avenue, Brighton

I am not sure what a “virtual” classroom is, but it seems to me children would miss out on contact with other children and the ethos of “belonging” that life in a good school generates.

What about sporting activities? It might solve the classroom problem but I have my doubts about the wisdom of the idea.

Donald Bishop, Farncombe Road, Lewes