From the comments: Can computers replace teachers?

Julie Mack | By Julie Mack | The Kalamazoo Gazette
on October 17, 2011 at 11:45 AM

Library computers online

Is online learning an effective alternative to having a teacher in the classroom?

A Kalamazoo Gazette column posted Saturday offered some thoughts on the subject, and readers weighed in with their own perspective.

Laws_House_336 compared conventional teaching to the horse and buggy:  "We can no longer afford to pay 100K plus salaries and benefits to people that think 1000 hours a year is full employment."

Joked Mike Milcarkek: "We all know that the reason computers won't be successful is because the MEA will force them to unionize, and then they will demand higher processing speed every year, while going into sleep mode more than the average computer in the private sector. Unions ruin everything, even computer teachers......."

Swontheborder pointed out the value of online classes: "There are many students who are self-starters and they are positively bored in class. Many seem to teach to the lowest level. Taking an online class has given my daughter insights to students in other countries (yes, countries), and students in other parts of this country. She is no longer bored and "meeting" other interesting people. My son takes online college classes so he can fit them into his schedule and still word to earn money to pay for more tuition. His classes are harder than face to face and he has learned valuable time management skills. Online classes are not for everybody, but I am glad they are an option for my kids."

JDB agreed that online learning fills a void: "I have had some good teachers, but many of them (at the high school level, college and graduate level) were quite poor. I learned far more from self-study than I ever did from them. I would have rather had on-line learning available as an option."

But one reader said he appreciated the part of the column that quoted talked about the value on teachers in the classroom. Thanks for "a great article showing the importance of our teachers," write harleyrider.