This site is a class blog space for new Career and Technical Specializations and Heathcare Science teachers enrolled in the New Teacher Institute (NTI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
My Contribution to the Fight for Perkins Funds.
I believe that Educators must continually fight for Perkins Funds because, from my experience, highly skilled tradespersons are in high demand. Also from the hard trades perspective tools are not made to last forever. Upkeep and replacement of tools are a constant battle. Furthermore, it's important to expose the students to the most current building materials and hardware as possible. In order to compete in today's marketplace, knowledge of Green building practices are becoming an everyday requirement. I am currently researching materials for building solar voltaic cell panels. These are technologies of the future. It is very important for tradepersons here in the US are able to compete in the global marketplace. I will try to form my lessons with that in mind.
We really do need to fight for these funds to replentish our equipment. I have found that most academic teachers have no clue how much we really need every year just to make it work. Tools break as you said. Equipment that does not break still may need some type of costly updating. Consumables like soap, hand cleaners, rags, brooms, etc. don't grow on trees. Academic classes just don't have these needs. Therefore, we need a funding source they cannot benefit from to support our classrooms.
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