This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Who needs teachers when you can have "TELEPRESENCE?"

Redlands is replacing classroom teachers with "TELEPRESENCE."

Redlands is replacing classroom teachers with computerized distant learning instruction.  

Redlands Unified School district (RUSD) is touting their latest offering of "excellence in education" with the "Telepresence Program."  Classroom babysitters described as "instructional employees" will be hired to replace the classroom teacher as students sit and watch a monitor.   Hey kids it's time for "TELEPRESENCE!"  Sit down and watch the monitor.  

RUSD extols the Cisco Telepresence as "high tech" in the classroom.  Really? Sounds like a replacement for quality teachers.  

Find out what's happening in Redlands-Loma Lindawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Once again RUSD  has lost sight that education is about setting the students up for success instead of protecting administration's fat pay checks. The district doesn't offer high tech AP computer science courses but promotes their regional vo-tech programs as computer courses.  

Odd that the district can't find money to purchase new textbooks to replace the textbooks from the 1980's or beyond but they can find money to buy the Cisco Telepresence system and million dollar phone systems.  The school district is constantly charging parents for more and more "donation fees."  Yesterday I spoke with a woman who is expecting $1000 of AP fees.

Find out what's happening in Redlands-Loma Lindawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Most teachers and parents don't regard replacing  classroom teachers with instructional baby sitting aids and monitors as a move toward "excellence in education."   How does it work when the bell schedules are different at each high school?

Maybe taxpayers didn't need to float two bond measures for Citrus Valley High school when we could have hired babysitters and monitors.   Is this RUSD's way in saying oops we goofed by building more high schools since we can't afford the teachers to staff the schools? What happens when the equipment is down or we have one of those black outs?

 What happens when the  teacher is absent?  This year my son had a Latin teacher absent for over 3 months without a qualified sub for over 6 weeks of instruction.  The only explanation ever given was that the teacher was out with laryngitis. 

If you have comments about RUSD's Telepresence program please email or call the Supertindent of Schools Lori Rhodes or the Board of Education.  The district phone number is  909 307-5300 and emails are as follows:

lori_rhodes@redlands.k12.ca.us    

rusd_board_members@redlands.k12.ca.us

The RUSD "Telepresence" pamphlet and course offerings are attached.  

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Redlands-Loma Linda