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thisnewday[This is my response to a recent article in the Syracuse Post-Standard concerning Governor Cuomo's anticipated cuts in state aid to public education. To provide additional context, most municipalities in NY State finance their public schools through a combination of state aid and local property taxes. At the same time that he proposes to cut state aid, the governor is also supporting a state-wide cap on property taxes. Which means that public schools in NY State may soon find themselves between the proverbial rock and hard place.]
Perhaps it's time to consider a new instructional model for public education, one that includes the use of trained volunteers in the classroom. Otherwise, how can we possibly meet the latest state and federal mandates for higher student achievement at a time when budgetary constraints require us to reduce the number of teachers, programs, and other resources needed to accomplish these goals? While some have suggested an expanded role for the computer technologies already in use as an adjunct to the educational process, there's clearly no effective substitute for the face-to-face, daily interaction between students and teachers.
As a retiree and volunteer in one of Syracuse's K-8 schools, I know there's a lot to be considered on the way to implementing such a plan. I've been working for about three months with an excellent young teacher whose classroom management skills are absolutely topnotch and we continue to find new ways, virtually every day, to maximize the effectiveness of this approach. But we're also rewarded, every day, as we notice the benefits to our students.
As this article makes clear, the financial and educational challenges facing us are daunting and the solutions we've relied on in the past, with their tax-based financial components, will only compound our difficulties. Maybe it's indeed time to consider a formalized system of volunteers in public education.
LPK
LiveJournal
1.1.2011
Perhaps it's time to consider a new instructional model for public education, one that includes the use of trained volunteers in the classroom. Otherwise, how can we possibly meet the latest state and federal mandates for higher student achievement at a time when budgetary constraints require us to reduce the number of teachers, programs, and other resources needed to accomplish these goals? While some have suggested an expanded role for the computer technologies already in use as an adjunct to the educational process, there's clearly no effective substitute for the face-to-face, daily interaction between students and teachers.
As a retiree and volunteer in one of Syracuse's K-8 schools, I know there's a lot to be considered on the way to implementing such a plan. I've been working for about three months with an excellent young teacher whose classroom management skills are absolutely topnotch and we continue to find new ways, virtually every day, to maximize the effectiveness of this approach. But we're also rewarded, every day, as we notice the benefits to our students.
As this article makes clear, the financial and educational challenges facing us are daunting and the solutions we've relied on in the past, with their tax-based financial components, will only compound our difficulties. Maybe it's indeed time to consider a formalized system of volunteers in public education.
LPK
LiveJournal
1.1.2011
