If one goes to school/church and just silently takes in the lecture, then you are right, it can be done much cheaper. But if the point of school/church is not just lecture, but developing relationships with peers and helping each other through coursework (or faith issues, life issues, etc), then it can't be virtualized that easily. True, there can be interaction among peers online, too, and that is good, but it is not quite the same thing. It will be a huge help in sparsely populated areas, which may be forced to cut back regular school to 2-3 days a week due to budget issues/increased gas prices, but in more densely populated areas I think traditional schools will prevail.

Plus, in densely populated areas both parents usually work, so they would need a babysitter for small children; for teens they wouldn't, but then truancy may be an issue that the city council would rather avoid, even if that means funding school 5 days a week. Babysitting shouldn't be the crucial factor in deciding the best way to educate kids, but it is enough of a factor to tip the scales.

Thomas Jefferson is no longer a founding father, according to the recent decision of the Texas Board of Education. Coincidence? I think not!

How about Jimmy Carter, nuclear engineer?