> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # District debates Internet classes - URL: https://www.smdp.com/district-debates-internet-classes/ - Published: 2002-04-16T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T00:14:29.000Z - Author: Andrew Fixmer - Tags: Education, Malibu, #archive-import *Internet classes could be banned in school district* A few parents of Santa Monica High School students are asking the city’s school district to consider allowing classes their children took over the Internet count toward graduation. Santa Monica-Malibu United School Board Member Michael Jordan brought up the issue during a school board discussion last week because a few parents had asked him about accepting the Web-based classes. Jordan said offering classes through the Internet has been hotly debated at Pepperdine University, where he is a professor of journalism. He said he is staunchly against the practice. 2D2,“I strongly believe in the value of having personal contact with a teacher,” Jordan said. “Classroom experience is a rich component of the whole learning process, and there is no substitute for that.” Other school board members, along with Superintendent John Deasy, also said they do not support accepting credits from Internet classes, even if they are taught from well-known universities. Parents, however, said Internet courses are easy for their children to take and fit into sometimes hectic schedules. They want their children to be able to use the classes to fulfill requirements for advanced math or science courses, as well as for mandatory summer courses and language classes not offered at the high school. The class required a text book and frequent exams. The successful completion of a midterm and a final exam were required for a passing grade. Not only could the work be completed on her daughter’s time frame, but it was much cheaper than sending her to summer school or a nearby private school, Stein said. The school district and her daughter’s high school counselors worked closely with her on making the course work count toward graduation, she said. In addition, her daughter provided the district with the course outline, copies of the exams and a copy of her grades in the class. “It would be backwards to take it away because of what’s happening with the Internet today,” Stein said. “They may have to set some rules up but I think given their lack of resources and financing they should take advantage of this.” Many universities and colleges across the country have begun offering courses over the Internet. At Santa Monica College, the practice began almost four years ago with one course and today has grown to over a hundred courses in 22 different subjects. Santa Monica College is working with a high school in the San Fernando Valley on using the service to offer students there more variety in the courses available to them. Online classes have also been used to save space in crowded classrooms and to let more students take popular classes. The college has even developed chemistry courses where all laboratory work is done in person, but the course work is completed through the Internet. “Instead of trying to recreate something (like a classroom setting) artificially, we’re trying to make the most of the medium available to us,” said Randal Lawson, Santa Monica College vice-president of academic affairs. Lawson said though a small number of high school students from the school district are currently taking the college’s Internet courses, it might not be appropriate for every student. He urged the school board to carefully debate the issue because Internet classes are rapidly expanding and becoming more universal. “Don’t automatically dismiss it, but really discuss it,” Lawson said. Thomas Pratt, a school board member, said he would consider allowing students to receive credit for Internet courses from accredited universities as long as students have to take exams and can show proof of their work. Pratt said the goal should be to prevent students from buying credits from fictitious Internet companies. “Basically some Internet companies start up their own universities and just sell degrees and diplomas,” he said. “We just don’t want every fly-by-night Internet company offering some class to count.” School Board President Julia Brownley agreed that accepting Internet courses could be done on a case-by-case basis, but she said most likely she would vote against a policy allowing the classes. “Maybe, I’m old-fashioned,” she said, “but I think learning should take place in the classroom.” The board asked it’s staff to make a recommendation on accepting Internet classes at it’s April 25 meeting. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/041602-03_01.jpg) (Photo: Photos by Carolyn) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 16, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/041602.pdf?ref=smdp.com)