I just finished reading the June 9, 2009 Education Week article: Dual Aims in Stimulus rise tension. This article discussed the different ways that we are possibly going to spend the aid of $100 billion in stimulus money. This is obviously a very sensative subject, with so many great answers, but which one is the right one?
I for one think there are two options for the use of the money that will get the nod from our leaders. The first option I believe is to use the money for school buildings. With the ongoing technology boom that we live in, it really seems like the only option. The money can be spent on tools such as smart boards, overhead projectors, and other technology based tools. The school option could also lead to some possible revamping of schools that are in dire need of a over haul. Our school is one that would definitely benefit from the money if it was spent that way. As with a lot of bigger schools, portables have become the name of the game. Though portables serve a quick fix, it would be nice to see the money spent on adding on to schools that maybe can’t afford it at this time.
The other option which will come to a shock to most everyone who decided to read my blog is, spending the money on teacher aids. Yeah I know I didn’t say adding it to our salary. There is a pretty good reason. I feel that teacher aids are the best kept secrets in schools across the United States. It stinks that a lot of schools are loosing the funding for aids to come into the classroom. As a teacher it is a great tool to have in your classroom. Teacher aids allow you to carry on with conversation or your lesson you maybe working on, but at the same time they help make sure that all of your students are being helped and understand what you are discussing.
As for the increase in payment, yeah I would love to make some more dough, but the bottom line is it will be a lot of talk that will lead nothing. We all would like to see higher wages for the work that we do, but the money they have in store would not be anywhere near the money they would need to increase our wages significantly.
In the USA today article “Teachers paid an average salary of $46,752, survey finds” said that even if teachers were to receive a 2.1% race it still wouldn’t keep up with inflation. What’s crazy about this article is that it is from 2005. Imagine what the rate is today. I think our dreams of big money in the teaching industry are really never going to come true, but if we have a chance at making our jobs easier and allowing our students to become the best that they can be, that all we can ever ask for.
It’s quite the pickle we have got ourselves into, and trying to find an answer seems like an uphill battle.
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I think your support for more teacher aides is a great idea! I, agree, teacher aides are probably some of the most ‘unsung” heroes in our system. They let teachers do exactly all you say. Unfortunately, in most districts the stimulus money cannot be spent on salaries. The money can be used to prevent RIFs or layoffs but not to create new positions. This is because the money will not be sustained after this biennium and there would be no revenue resource to continue paying those new positions.
ReplyDeleteI do hope the stimulus money will be used for the much needed renovations to our public school buildings and updated technology!
Westley,
ReplyDeleteMy school is one that is benefiting from the stimulus money. We are renovating our school, finally after all these years having no walls or doors.
I agree that updating technology is an area schools should be using the money for. Schools cannot use the money for teacher's salaries unless the school is willing to pick-up the cost in two years when the stimulus funds are over. Hiring of more teacher aides would be beneficial. Teacher's aides are a wonderful part of the learning community in schools. As long as they are hired on a one-year contract basis because the stimulus money is a one-time surplus and funding is not guaranteed to continue projects that were started with this money.
Chad