Re:Why does it matter if they come to class? (Score 1)

To answer the question: Its really very simple. The business model of "university" as well as almost all public and private educational endeavors that are "certified" by state educational power requires a contract of time-on-task which is defined as "classroom activity". Thus "days per year" contract. Get this: its time that is measured. Got that? Time-- not learning. The student's learning is irrelevent. The exceptions from certification are minor, such as: religious training, music, dancing, art, preschool etc . Of course this is archaic and totally out of step with modern techniques of communication (isn't learning a two way communication - at least a significant part?). However, keep in mind that a humongus bureacracy exists to maintain the current system -- and they control the "certification" processes and definition. So attempt to change it at your own risk --Caviat Emptor. If you try to start your own e-school (I'd rather call it OpenSource learning)they will put you out of business (not give you a license to run your school-then close you down) for not having the classroom-time education model even if you can document the delivery of skills and content to the students. Been there-done that! One of the most effective groups by-passing the "certification" trap (you have to have a certified deploma, degree etc) has been the home school movement -- mostly individual families who have had enough of the public school crap for a lot of different reasons -- have opted out. By the way, most of the home schoolers conduct "learning" for about 4 hours a day and the "educational value" results have been above the public school results: more efficient more effective. Another area of "learning" which has successfully by-passed the public "certification" thus the bureacratic monopoly has been industrial training/education. This can be a profitable nitche for edu-businesses and they are open to cost effective hi-tech delivery methods rather than classic classroom lecture (boring/low retention) techniques to deliver the content. The element of sales of this service is tied to a concept completely foreign to public ed (cost of unit learned); that is, defined accountability. If you are not prepared to deliver "learned skills/content" to industry don't go that way. Finally, I have to admit to you that I am a slow learner, having plodded through the public elementary schools, high school, university, masters, PhD programs and eventually discovering that I did not have to go through all that very inefficent crap. I could have done it all faster and much, much cheaper without their classes. What I did not have at that time, was the vision, drive and confidence of doing it myself (and no encouragement to do so). I am now abolutely convinced that for people who want to learn -- they should do it themselves. If you have kids that you dont want to be conditioned to ignorance by the public schools, lock them in a room at home with all the technical communciation available (just kidding)then send them to school after 3pm. I have been privy to building several start-up companies and I will no longer buy the skills of "certified" school taught specialists. I want drop-outs that have learned it all themselves -- and I am getting them -- and they are Fantastic. One last thought: do it yourself, do it yourself, doityourself. Document your progress. Document your skills and knowledge be prepared to demonstrate your skills, knowledge, dreams and vision. Be Priceless, Be the very best at whateveryou do. Good luck!