Money Over Education

Sometimes I feel that we educate children despite the system, rather than because of it. From where I stand, money dominates the decision process, not what's best for kids. Priorities, priorities, priorities.

Priority: selling rings. Today, the Josten salesman got face time with the entire junior class at the expense of 40 minutes of my class. Message? Your education is less important than our profit.

Priority: selling snacks. Food is strictly forbidden in class, and everyone knows sugar and caffeine consumption is detrimental to focused learning, yet we conventiently place snack and coke machines in the hallway. Message: funding athletics through snack profits is more important than your mind or class discipline.

Priority: payroll reduction. Stuffing classes with 40+ students hobbles the personal interaction a teacher can offer, not to mention breaks the law. Message: you're on a production line; get an education if you can.

Priority: vendor-oriented IT expenditures. I've got a $900 printer, but no toner. All teachers have Office XP, which has a free alternative, but no need for anything but Word. I've got a fancy email program that tracks all my activity, but still must hand-deliver papers to Detention rather than attach then to a message. Message: technology money is spent regardless of any real need.