Just heard on the news that Utah is officially the lowest-spent-per-pupil state in the nation. A full ten thousand below the higher states, and about four thousand below the national average.
First I got really mad and thought...that is so unfair!
But then I got thinking....what are my students really missing? I don't know. I really feel like we have what we need, including some pretty great technology.
But, is it just a case of we don't know what we're missing? I mean, I do spend a large chunk of my own money on supplies and such (as in about $1100 last year...).
Input?
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I don't have any kids in the school system so I'm probably not the best to be putting in my input but I think Utah schools could definitely use more money and then distribute it evenly. I don't know how they decide who gets more money but it seems like where one school has the newest and greatest things another school is barely getting by with outdated equipment. And maybe that's the schools themselves and how they budget their money, I don't know. I remember when I worked at K-Mart this teacher came in and was buying boxes and boxes of notebooks at the beginning of the school year. I was so shocked that she was paying for that out of her own pocket. Thank goodness for teachers like you and her but teachers shouldn't have to do that.
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ReplyDeleteWhat a thought provoking post! It's interesting to think about what we might be missing out on. Maybe my students would have had more experience testing on the computer (Since that's what we have to do now) if they had had their own lap tops, or maybe my spanish speaking student would have learned English better if I had more computers in my classroom so he could get on the program that would help him learn it. Maybe I wouldn't be rationing my art supplies so much by the end of the year and stifling my students creative impulses if I had more money for materials. Maybe we would go on more exploration trips that would bring real world learning to my students if there wasn't such a small budget that other grades already used up. Hmmm... makes me think! And then maybe we are being made to be creative to help our students learn. Either way I still think our school is the best school in the world! ;)
ReplyDeleteWow, that's such a shocking and disappointing number!
ReplyDeleteI think our teachers are bright and innovative and willing to put their own money into the classroom and that makes up for a lot. However, I think there's a lot of room for improvement in funding and in how those dollars are spent to actually get them to the classroom!
Utah's school systems are a mess. You would think in a state that cared so much about education they would be better. Some say competition from private schools would benefit the system, but I have done research on countries (such as Brazil) that turn into a private only, and public for the poor. How would that help? It wouldn't.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, until there are less children per family (because duh, they are all paying taxes, but not nearly enough for how many kids they have) or the Utah legislature (a joke!) figures out some way to solve the problem, we're basically shit out of luck.
Good thing there are awesome teachers like you that CHOOSE to stay in Utah even though you could be paid more, and have better classroom materials elsewhere. Thank you, Mrs. Cox!
Also, sorry I missed dinner. And forgot about your cat. Bad friend award.
I feel horrible that you have to spend your own money -- that you can't get reimbursed or anything like that. Its messed up.
ReplyDeleteI always told myself that I would put my kids through private education but I don't think I'll be able to afford that ever. So who knows?
We do have a lot of kids in Utah -- and not as many people. If a family in Utah has 5 kids and a family in California has 2 kids -- both their parents are paying taxes, so 4 kids in California are going to have two parents paying for them, while in Utah, there my be fewer taxpayers per kid?
Just thought I'd let you know that I googled Utah schools with Notebooks and your post was like the 3rd or 4th link on the search! You are famous! I just told John that my new goal is to come up on a google search. I'll have to think of how to do it, but it will happen! You lucky girl you! :)
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