Opinion
Education Funding Opinion

Funding for Technology is Essential

By Stu Silberman — March 25, 2014 1 min read
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The following guest post is from Tabetha Cooksey, a 2013-14 Hope Street Group Fellow and a Middle School Science teacher at Cumberland County Middle School.

Increased educational funding is needed in the Cumberland County school district. It would be an understatement to say that each school in this district is deprived of the necessary funding to enable student growth and effective teacher planning. Current funding limits the availability of resources we need to educate our students.

One limitation that comes to mind is our lack of technological resources. An upgrade in technology is no longer just a desire; it is a necessity. New educational standards promote inquiry-based learning, critical thinking and individual problem solving that can only be carried out with the use of dependable technology tools that this district simply cannot afford for each teacher, much less each student.

If dollars are not included in the budget for textbooks or e-books, then how are our students going to become independent learners? We want our teachers to facilitate student learning, but without these tools it is impossible to improve the learning experience of students. Our students need the opportunity to extend their learning beyond the classroom with virtual labs and interactive assignments that expand their understanding of what is being taught.

Is education the most important thing for the future of each of our students and for the Commonwealth? If so, it must be adequately funded and teachers must receive the resources they need.

If teachers are supported and provided appropriate tools, then our students will be on the right path to achieve college- and career-readiness.

Educational funding can fix so many problems that the education system faces on a daily basis.

Students should be the priority, but this cannot happen without providing teachers with the resources that can promote student learning.

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