How can I not dwell on the quote found in our reading, “money doesn’t buy better education…” (Darling-Hammond, 2010, p. 101) my thoughts in one word, REALLY! As a classroom teacher, it is my hope that money does not make for better student education, but there comes a point when you REALLY start to wonder.
There have been countless times where my high school principal has made comments regarding how his staff is amazing and that he appreciates everything that we do. He understands that budgets are tight and that his staff has to do without, but he knows that we will be successful, and continue the education process that the students need, no matter what. True, I will continue to educate my students to the best of my ability, without having the resources that I need, or want to have to make my classroom, and lessons better. There comes a point though where enough is enough, how much more can be taken away and the expectations still stay the same. If I continue to show that I am able to teach successfully without new textbooks, new computer program upgrades, updated computers, and new technology, will we ever be able to get back the money back that is needed for these new resources. Money for resources is really not something that I can control, unless I take the proactive approach and apply for grants to supplement what I do not get from my school district. We tend to get caught up in the things that we cannot control, verses looking at what we can.
The reading, The Flat World of Education, by Linda Darling-Hammond was full of information regarding how schools with no funds cannot keep up with the schools that have the resources to stay up to date with curriculum, technology. In addition, these schools are not able to obtain highly qualified teachers, because why would a teacher want to go to a school where the funding is not available to get the resources needed or wanted. Teaching is hard enough; but the problem of limited or no resources brings a completely different set of problems.
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