Sooner or later virtual learning had to come to a high school near you. That time is now. Students at Essex High School are allowed to take one online course a year for credit through a partnership with the Massachusetts-based Virtual High School, according to the <Burlington Free Press. Online learning is becoming popular not only in high schools, but on the elementary level too. Essex High School saw its online participants go from eight last year to 22 this semester. Computer-based courses are not new to Vermont as many home-schoolers take some or all their courses online. e-course offerings should grow in Vermont with the launch of a new cooperative funded with federal stimulus dollars. The Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative will offer its first summer school courses in a few months and year- and semester-long courses in the fall. “Students can choose what they want to do and do it at their own rate,” said Paul Irish, who is helping to coordinate the Cooperative. Essex High School ninth-grader, Chesta Singh, offers this review of her online journalism course: “It’s pretty fun. It’s a lot more fun than any of my regular school classes.” She hopes to take oceanography next year. Seems appropriate when surfing online.