Once again Superintendent Scott Bean is mistaking quantity education for quality education. Turning my 7- and 8-year-old students into full-, or nearly full-, time workers will not be nearly as beneficial as providing them with the materials and personnel needed to make the most of the hours they already spend in my classroom.
Here are my Top Ten alternative suggestions to enhance the learning of our children, while still allowing them enough time to be children.1. Multimedia computers in every classroom (I'd settle for just one.), along with a separate school lab and computer specialist available for help with regular, ongoing projects.
2. PE and music specialists in each school.
3. Other fine arts materials and specialists available to give each student one major experience in drama, dance and art each year.
4. Sufficient textbook funds so that we don't have to choose between getting math or reading consumables for our students, let alone trying to update our other textbooks.
5. Funds allocated specifically to continually enrich the classroom experience.
6. Supply monies and catalogs that provide enough paper, decent scissors, classroom pencil sharpeners that last longer than two months, staplers that actually staple, art supplies beyond the barest minimum, playground equipment strong enough to be used by children and, most of all, enough of it all so that I don't panic about running out of something by March and having to spend more of my own money to keep my classroom running.
7. Copy machines that work and have enough toner, etc., so that we don't have to ration their use or go to Kinko's (my money again) when they're down.
8. More discretionary funds available to reimburse teachers for classroom expenditures. (My average is $100 a month, we sometimes get back $100 to $150 a year.)
9. More ancillary staff. Teachers from other states are always dumbfounded that we don't have aides in our classrooms.
10. Increase salaries and continue to push for smaller class sizes to attract and keep the best and the brightest.
Mr. Bean needs to ensure adequate funding to maximize the current school experience within the time we have rather than look at ways to extend the school day or the school year.
Katherine Bobbermin
Salt Lake City