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.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Witout perkins....
Tough economic times. Money is very tight and getting tighter. Government is struggling to fund the basics. Perkins keeps technical education moving. Without it we could not keep our labs functioning, and be updated on the latest innovations in our professions. But when money is tight, programs that were once thought to be invaluable somehow seem non-important. Currently we are funded for a few years, but if we can not show that the bar is being raised and that we significantly impact the basic academic needs of he students, then I believe that government will think technical education expendable. Those of us in the profession see what we do a necessary part of the total package of education- that is why we need to keep fighting for Perkins.
Yes, Emily, I agree that we need to fight. I think that our battle will be easier if we confront the politicians with evidence, credible evidence, that Perkins is working, that technological education is moving along, that society is benefiting. Otherwise, we will find that we have an uphill battle on our hands, if we cannot show them that we are making a difference. They will say exactly what you have said: "These are tough economic times"; "We do not have the money to fund this or that"; "There's nothing we can do", etc. Excuses, excuses, and more excuses.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Emily. Before the economic crisis we seemed like a difference maker in the world of High School education. Now with the economic crisis, we look like we might be the first ones on the chopping block. If we don't fight for what we need, then how are we to prove that we are needed. It's funny how we may be in jeopardy of losing this financing and we have never seen a decision maker in our class/lab for evaluation. I feel like our program is steadily justifying the need for perkins money, and welcome anyone into our lab that thinks we don't. I understand economic stress, but don't take away the one thing we need the most.
ReplyDelete