“The Future of Public School Education is Here”

    “The Future of Public School Education is Here” reads the temporary sign at Flex Academy. Flex Academy in San Francisco, California, has instituted a new academic “hybrid” approach in their classrooms. This approach combines onsite schooling with online education and the self-directed feel of the workplace environment.  Students at Flex Academy complete all of their assignments online, sit at cubicles, and work at their own pace.

Classes at Flex are small and based on the needs of the students as determined by frequent assessments. Flex teachers are teaching the entire time with the flexibility to focus attention on students who need more assistance while more advanced students continue their assignments online. To be successful, students must be self-motivated, but teachers and parents also have access to student accounts and can view their progress

Flex Academy is a new charter school with a new idea that appears to be working for some. Mark Kushner, Flex founder and CEO, admits that that there are drawbacks to their academic approach: internet connection not operating, misusage of internet (Facebook etc.) They admit this approach is not for everyone, but they believe it is the future of public school education.

Many agree that our school systems need improvement and some attention, but is this the future? Those against this style of educating say “we ought to allow children to be children…the rest of their lives will consist of adulthood and work environments”. Others argue that this technology based education will continue to disconnect this generation and decrease the learning of life skills.

So what do you think? Is this the future?

Check out this article highlighting Flex Academy and their promotional video.

--krystal