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The Edutopia Poll
by Laila Weir
As school districts around the country bleed money -- and, hence, programs and staff -- the federal economic-stimulus funds for education will go first to stanch the budgetary wounds. But the Obama administration is also using the money to push for school reform: The aid comes with requirements for change, and districts must publicly report how they use it. To get the first infusion of cash, administrators had to promise to tackle four goals: raise academic standards, improve data collection and reporting, move good teachers to low-performing schools, and invest in turning failing schools around. For second-round money, they'll have to show they've made progress toward these goals. The stimulus package also includes a $5 billion special fund to encourage innovation in education. At the same time, though, the aid comes with the warning that it's a onetime deal and schools shouldn't invest it in programs requiring ongoing support. Critics worry that the stimulus money is a quick fix that won't engender any real reform, or that the innovation funds will go to programs that look good on paper but don't work -- or don't scale well -- in real classrooms. We want to hear what you think.
I am a second year teacher in California who is sadly facing layoff. I love the students I teach every day and I love my career. The thought of leaving my school and the field of education is beyond sad.
If while I am subbing next year waiting to rehire, I could find a grant to possibly cover the cost of my Masters degree, I could come back to teaching a better teacher.
However, the cost of such a degree while not working is prohibitive.
If anyone is aware of grants through the stimulus package, I think this information would be greatly appreciated by other California teachers like myself.
Reform
All of the money in the world could not truly reform education. Open-minded and creative people have the ability to reform education.
Stimulus $ might lead to reform..if our governor would take it!!
South Carolina's governor, Republican Mark Sanford, continues to refuse to accept the stimulus package money designated for education. If we got the money, I think it clearly would help us survive this economic crisis and might help inspire reform. As things stand, though, we're looking at significant layoffs, resource reductions, increased class sizes, etc., due to the recession-related reduction in tax revenue with no help from any source.
Stimulus Package
The stimulus package will only enable most states to help balance their budjets. I work in Delaware and we have been told that they are going to cut all of our paychecks by 6 to 10 percent because of the lack of funding. Every year new teachers and veterans are on edge until the end of May when we know if we have a job for the next year. We were told that we would get some money for upgrading of technology yet have not seen that in the past three years. We are told to use more techonolgy in our lesson plans, yet are not provided with the equpiment to do so. I have computers that are so old they turn themselves on and open up their own disk drives all on their own. The internet does not work on them all the time and I have a monitor that has a big purple spot in the bottom right hand corner. I have no other technology that works in my classroom. Yet, I am expected to buy all my classroom supplies and buy extra items I need for lessons.
I am expected to do this and have my pay cut! I am just about finished my master's degree which I am earning to become highly qualified, but also to get jump up on the pay scale. I will be lucky to break even and now I have to pay the loans back with little money now that my pay check is going to be cut between 6 to 10 percent. Not sure how much yet because it hasn't passed state legislation yet. So I do not think that the stimulus packages that states will get will benefit any classrooms or school districts.
Stimulus abuse
LAUSD is planning to spread the stimulus money over 2 years, so it won't save any jobs for teachers. Although my job is safe at this moment, the 6 teachers at risk at my site are among the best and the brightest. The thought of their being replaced by administrators that have been out of the classroom by choice or neccessity makes me grieve for public education in Los Angeles. The need for enthusiasm and fresh thinking has never been greater.
No Reform here
Idaho's Republican governor and legislature will not use all of the stimulus funds and would rather cut the already bare bones education budget. Their assault on public education continues. It is hard to even consider reform with huge classes getting larger and some of the lowest teacher incomes in the country being cut further.
Reform stimulus
The stimulus money will arrive too late to save teachers from being laid off in my Oregon school district. More money will have a negligible effect on educational reform just as it has had little effect on changing the bad behaviors which caused the “recession”. Educational reform comes from encouraging innovation, identifying best practices and influencing behaviors. It is a process that respects the unique individuality and creativity of independent schools without imposing top down standards like NCLB. Imagine a better system where the best teachers lead the reform effort with the blessings of supportive communities.
Please do not leave the teaching profession
L.P.
If you know of individuals holding math and science undergraduate degrees, looking for a way to gain a tuition free MA degree and (solid pedagogical support)from a prestigious teaching university, please direct them to the following link:
http://cehs.montclair.edu/academic/cop/pts.shtml
Best wishes to you and your colleagues.
D.W.
Choose One Stimulate or Educate
Yes, we CAN ...RETIRE these words: school reform.
Come into this century please and stop all the drones from these "quick" costly fixes that accomplish more pain not GAIN! We need a new shift in education.
Come on now all you Harvard & Columbia scholars get up now ,HELP US, give us some GREAT NEW WAYS of teaching& learning !!! INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY USE IT! Porn ranks #1 on website hits lets educate young folks that RESEARCH and lEARNING can be fun on the NET too and make those hits #1.
It's their way of learning now... get with IT or RETIRE! (or use a little of both if you can do IT)
Stimulus package
No. It takes teachers believing in what they're doing to inspire reform in a school or classroom.