This summer, before his freshman year, my son took a personal fitness class online through the Florida Virtual School. It was a smart thing to do for so many reasons.

This was not an easy course -- more challenging than any PE class he had in middle school -- and he really learned the material. He learned more about the body and fitness and nutrition than he had before. He spent hours each week reading, doing various kinds of assignments and assessments, faxing workout logs signed by a parent. It's very structured. Kids can do the work at their own pace, but there are benchmark assignments they have to hit to stay on pace.

He started by enrolling at the Florida Virtual School. You pick the course you want, and then wait to be accepted. Once you have your class, the teacher will contact you.

Alec had an initial phone call with Mrs. Hardman. Then he was on his own. He would keep in touch with her by email and periodic phone calls. Then, she would follow up with a phone call to me to make sure I knew that he was staying on pace.

We encouraged Alec to take this course over the summer for a few reasons: He wouldn't have to take PE during the school year (frankly, a waste of time for someone as physically active as my son has always been). Instead he could take something more academic, and get ahead on his graduation requirements. But mostly: He had nothing better to do this summer and this at least gave him some structure.

Virtual School is not for slackers. Kids have to be motivated, and they have to know how to manage their own time. One of Alec's brainiac friends took a virtual Chinese course over the summer. That's not easy.

The only hitch was that we thought the course was worth one credit, but when he got to high school this fall, he learned it was only half a credit. But by this time, I didn't even mind. He can take the other half credit online next summer.