San Martin resident has great praise for ‘excellent’ online education program
Dear Editor,
Like many families throughout California, ours is taking the important step of beginning another school year. Although we live in San Martin, my children will be attending an excellent public school in San Mateo. Or more precisely, the school will be coming to my children.
My children attend the California Virtual Academies at San Mateo, an online public charter school offered by the San Mateo School District and certified by the state of California. CAVA is among a growing list of diploma-granting virtual education schools in our state.
Thanks to Gov. Jerry Brown, California has recently made some giant strides in public education. Now I, speaking on behalf of many parent leaders, believe that state lawmakers must join the governor’s enthusiasm and embrace the benefits of virtual schools and the positive contributions they make to our children’s education.
For many children, a traditional school setting simply is not a good fit. A child might find that the classroom is not moving at the right pace, depending on whether they are gifted learners or need more one-on-one instruction. In some cases, a child might have medical reasons or other challenges that make it difficult for them to participate productively in a group environment.
Technology makes this possible, but it doesn’t mean students in virtual schools are lacking measurement standards, opportunities for socialization, or personal support from teachers. Public virtual school students are partnered with teachers who meet with them and help track their progress. Group activities are arranged throughout the year, including field trips and club projects.
Academic standards for online schools are just as high as those at other public schools. Our teachers are state-certified, and student academic progress is rigorously monitored by state education officials.
More than half of U.S. states now have statewide online public schools. And for parents in California, public virtual education gives them unprecedented freedom to access a school program that works best for their children, a freedom that used to be limited to families who could afford private schools. You can learn more at www.calvirtualed.org.
Nicole Conragan, San Martin
Gilroy police doing excellent job and kudos for the raid on gambling business
Dear Editor,
I think that once again the police in this town are doing a fantastic job! The “Militaristic raid” on Liberty PCS couldn’t have happened sooner. This led to arrests of people with warrants or drug-related crimes.
Hmmm, I wonder if they would have raided Togo’s would they have had the same results? I highly doubt it due to the shady people I’ve seen hanging around that shopping center since this business opened.
Now, I understand why after reading that the illegal gambling venue was masquerading as legitimate business. In light of San Jose Police Department’s budget cuts and reduction in pay that led to hundreds of experienced officers retiring early or leaving for other agencies, Gilroy has kept a sharp team of officers in place to keep the cities crime in check.
Contrast that to the rise in crime in what was once the safest largest city in America. You can see the difference just from the increase in graffiti when driving around San Jose.
As a resident of Gilroy, I’m grateful for our police department continuing to keep our city free from criminal enterprises.
John Martin, Gilroy
