Blog 4/24

Personally, I like his vision for technology education and how it can change the life of the student and teacher. In my opinion though he paints a rather rosy if not somewhat idealistic picture.

In chapter 7, he list four possible ways to implement the technology program and make funds available. To me none of them are really that great.He is forgetting a major factor in his equations. The local tax base. The mom, dad and random citizen already paying funds on their property each year to the schools. How would you justify to local citizens that there is a national standard when it has traditionally been at the state level. We can't even get the state level standards and assessments figured out. To think that the Federal Government would be able to justify spending more than they have ever budgeted to technology education on the success of the "best" school district is ridiculous. First, there has to be more funds than he is accounting for appropriated for the added bureaucracy to manage this national standard. Second, I think we can all agree that the best thing the Federal Government can do in a majority of the cases is to stay out of the way so they don't mess it up. Also, how do you get the software companies involved. Who decides the curriculum? Will it be a no bid contract for putting the hardware and software materials into the school? He leaves just too many unanswered and serious questions without thought.

To me I think it would be best to throw standardization to the wind somewhat. Create an outline at the National level of what the States should attempt to achieve in regards to meeting standardization at each of its districts. Lets face facts, some districts are well ahead of others. Put grants in place to each State and allow the state to allocate out to the districts the dollar amount in which to give. This will keep the logistical nightmare out of the Federal hands. From a Federal level appeal to Software and hardware manufactures what is being looked for in curriculum material on a variety of competency levels. Leave it up to the local districts to "shop" what will suit their needs for their students best to help move forward from where they are currently without holding kids back or putting unrealistic pressure on students and faculty. This will also create a competition in the business environment that should help keep cost low, feedback from the education world regular, and constantly improving material and products for education. Putting this into the hands of the State and local districts is best since we are "teaching to the Test" in most states. This will help make sure the proper software and curriculum packages are available. This also allows the local population to feel a part of the decision making process in their kids education.