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What’s Your Idea for Spending Stimulus Dollars?
By Tobi Kibel Piatek | February 10, 2009
Our schools are running out of money. Every day the news holds stories of new and looming financial disasters, and the terrifying solutions that are being suggested to solve our crisis (cut a day out of every school week? Eliminate school buses, any other ideas?)
Of course, there is the promise of a Stimulus Package – money that can be used to make things better. But how should we put it to use?
There are lots of ideas out there about how to use the money. Some sound great – some (and I’m not mentioning specifics here) seem like there might be better ways to spend our dollars.
Since it seems like everyone has an opinion on this topic, I am asking you – educators, people who work with kids, people who have families, people who see need and identify problems in their daily work. HOW WOULD YOU PUT THE STIMULUS MONEY TO WORK?
Share your ideas on this blog: If it was your decision – in what ways would you spend this money? What do you believe would have the greatest impact? What are the greatest needs that you see? What (as long as we are doing this) do you think is the dumbest idea you’ve heard?
Thanks, and please pass this question along. Inquiring minds want to know.
Topics: Questions |
February 16th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Ohhhh boy.
I’m not an educator or mentor, so I will gladly abide by the ideas that others have. But, as a student, I would have LOVED to have more assemblies, special guests, visiting artists, and FIELD TRIPS. Things to break up the everyday routine.
Basic improvements like more computers, getting all physical equipment up to code (no more asbestos or lead paint), and while we’re at it, gardens. Let’s put gardens around the schools and let the kids work in them. Let’s use that food for the cafeteria! Let’s get school outside the classroom!
February 17th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I agree with Kate that basic improvements and additional activities outside the traditional classroom would be good uses of stimulus money.
I would also like to suggest that providing teachers with training that would improve their skills as well as keeping class sizes as small as possible so that teachers can be more effective (better able to establish positive relationships with their students) would be money well spent.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:55 am
When the going gets tough, the activities are the first thing to get cut. I would really like to see some things come back including sports, music, art and other extracurricular programs. Students need an outlet for their energy and to develop talents.
College preparation courses for all high school seniors would also be wonderful thing to see. So many students are having to take remedial reading, writing and math during their freshman year, which should not be happening.
As we become more diverse in our classrooms there will be a need for staff training, translators, advanced computers and more bi-lingual teachers (also who are able to teach English).
February 21st, 2009 at 6:33 am
We were discussing the stimulus package, and of course dollars should be spent on education and the creation of employment. We have decaying buildings, books that are obsolete or tattered and held together by tape, VHS equipment vs. CD/DVD, computer technology equipment that is in need of repair, chairs that would be better served as recycled art pieces, etc.
Community includes students, the respect and time spent on them will translate into a stronger local/global community later, but we need to also focus on the types of jobs we are creating. While a positive to put labor intensive jobs on the market, we also need white collar technology driven jobs if we wish to support education beyond K-12.
Dawn
March 9th, 2009 at 12:15 am
I would hire more teaching passionate teacher, and lay off those who have lost teaching passionate.
Since due to the budget cut, grade schoolers don’t have any field trip, and I always think that field-trip is the most effective way for learning and interacting for build up a positive relationship between teachers and students.