Parents, teachers agree (somewhat)

Parents and teachers have very different views on life in school, the Associated Press reports. But there's one thing about which they see eye-to-eye: the Internet's value. A new AP-AOL Learning Services Poll found that "81% of teachers and 83% of parents agree that the Internet and online sources are helpful." The percentages weren't so close in other findings. "For example, less than half of parents say student discipline is a serious concern at school. Teachers scoff at that. Two in three of them call children's misbehavior a major problem," the AP reports. Also: "73% of teachers say they know more than their students about learning tools available on the Internet vs. 57% of parents; "71% of teachers say class work and homework are the best way to measure academic success" vs. 63% of parents; and in a smaller gap, "79% of teachers rate high schools good or better in preparing students for college" while 67% of parents agree. AOL's introducing a group of online "Learning Services" for pre-K-12, including cognitive games, homework help, and reading, writing and math assistance at $4.95/month each. Here's AOL's press release. And here's the Christian Science Monitor on how software helps with homework and communications between home and school.