Queen of Science - 12 Dissenters

For the next several days, Fern looked at job applications to Simply Explained and organized training.

Fern posted a list of the rules on the forum and included a section for users to anonymously report rule breakers. New staff members needed to learn how to access the reports and how to enforce the rules. For example: if a user is reported for swearing and the staff member deems that the user was in fact swearing, the staff member mutes the offending user for 7 days and sends them a link that explains the reason for the rule’s existence.

Fern also assigned subjects of specialty to different staff members. For example, people with a bachelor’s degree in biology are responsible for answering biology related questions. Fern designed a computer program that tracks a user’s progress through the learning content. Before a staff member can begin working and answering user questions, they have to have completed all of the lessons and activities related to their particular subject.

After Fern completed selection and training, there was a total of 35 staff members ready for action. With all these people fulfilling the jobs that Fern would normally have to do, she no longer has to sneak out at night! She can resume her leisurely life of sleeping at night and being a somewhat normal baby!

That is until Simply Explained gained too much attention and people started criticizing the website.

With such a rapid rise in popularity and divergent approach to education, it is inevitable that some people were not fans of Simply Explained.

Unfortunately, some people tend to initially reject anything that is different from the normal. Although innovation comes from questioning the normal and exploring the abnormal, some people choose to continue rejecting new concepts without giving them a chance.

A group of traditional parents was so offended by the new method of learning that they denounced it as harmful and poisonous to the impressionable youths.

One could argue that the parents simply wanted to protect their children, but it is a different story when they are affecting more than their own family.

The parents who spoke up against Simply Explained already had a following and influence in the parenting community. Once they started spreading their message, other parents and teachers join in and argued against Simple Explained.

Some even went as far as to say that it should be illegal for a person to educate others without being regulated by the government!

Other made up statistics and made them seem official by using big words and graphs!

“A survey conducted by the National Bureau of Education found that students who spend more than two hours reading and notetaking receive a higher score on exams by an average of 15 percent.”

“Saying that it is okay for teaching to be unregulated is like saying that it is okay for food to be unregulated!”

“Camilla Price should be ashamed of herself! She is taking advantage of vulnerable students and using them to get money!”

“The internet is dangerous! I will never let my child near a computer!”

At first, people of the Simply Explained community tried to respond to these parents and teachers with rational discussion.

“There is no proof that Simply Explained’s teaching techniques will hurt your student’s learning and grades”

“It is too early to be making such claims.”

“The information taught in the lessons is exactly the same as what is taught in school.”

“Simply Explained provides another resource for students to use when studying. It is their choice whether or not to use the resource.”

“Professor Camilla Price is a highly regarded and established professional in the study of biology. It seems highly unlikely that she needs money or has a desire to corrupt the minds of youths.”

Luckily, Camilla who is the center of the arguments is rather dense and did not realize that people were accusing her of being a heartless moneygrubber.

When people walked up to her and asked Camilla about Simply Explained, she simply dismissed it by waving her hand and saying, “Oh no, sorry you have the wrong person. It is understandable, there are not many people with the name Camilla Price.”

During the uprising of upset parents and teachers, Fern was unconcerned and did nothing to defend the website. She bade her time and waited until the grade reports of final exams to come out June 1st.

Fern had a firm belief in the teaching power of her lesson videos and learning activities. She knew that once the parents and teachers saw the exam grades, they would have irrefutable evidence that Simply Explained is beneficial and not detrimental to education.