What is Helium

Is money for education used to benefit students or staff?

Results so far:

Students		45%	97 votes	Total: 216 votes
Staff		55%	119 votes	Total: 216 votes

Students

1 of 5

Money used in the area of education will ultimately benefit the students. Whether it is direct or indirect, it always trickles down to the students. Let's take wages for staff for instance. Higher wages means more qualified teachers may be interested in the area. By getting teachers that have a higher education and more life experiences, students can benefit from the extra knowledge and expertise of that faculty. A higher budget for janitorial services means cleaner facilities, higher budget for school police means better safety, higher budget for construction gives students a better environment to learn and become the outstanding citizens we demand from our education system.
Taxpayer money is one of those things that everyone wants to know where it is going, but no one wants to pay any more to get the desired outcome. Students are the first priority when it comes to funding. The more students at a school, the more money the school gets from the government. The higher the graduation standards and such, the more money that will come from private businesses to be affiliated with such a good school. Believe me when I say that everyone is interested in the level of education in the schools and what kind of people they are releasing into the society. The money really is being spent for the well being of the students.
When the money is spent on physical things such as computers and buildings for the students to have class in, money is obviously spent on the student. It may be difficult for some people to really track and pinpoint what will and won't benefit the student. We as a society should be more involved with our child's school and see exactly where that money is being spent. Taking on an active role in your community will ensure that money for education is being spent the way you want it to be spent. Town hall meetings and PTA conferences are a good way to start. If is seems that there isn't enough money to go around, maybe fund raising can be done to help the school complete a project for the students.
As with any kind of institution, there are always people that are "leery" of where there money is going to. Since there are so many individuals that one place can effect, any kind of spending on that place will help all that are involved. I would advise anyone to not look at a schools checkbook to find out if the money is going towards books or staff lunches. Just know that our students are affected by all aspects of the education system and that they are the ones that will always benefit.

Learn more about this author, Andrew Youngker.
Click here to send Author comments or questions.

Staff

1 of 7

by John Graham

I would have no issue with additional money for schools going to staff if that meant that the best staff was hired. However, throwing money at schools with the existing teachers is simply throwing money away.

Teaching in the United States is at an all time low and that is verified by the comparative position of American students against those in almost any other country. OK, so we are probably ahead of Burkino Faso in something but measured against Japan, China and Europe our schooling ranks the lowest by far. Let's face it, our students don't even get an adequate education in English.

Teachers should be professionals. That means they should have qualifications in both their specialty, such as English or Mathematics AND be qualified to teach. Teaching is much more than knowing a subject. Teachers should earn those qualifications in good universities rather than mere state colleges or after-hours learning. Associate degrees do not count.

Teaching is about inspiration, motivating the poorest in the class as well as keeping up with the brightest. Teaching is not about focusing on the middle, or the average student. That implies that teaching is hard and I would be willing to agree that those teachers who measure up to expectation should earn high salaries. I we pay engineers $100,000 to design a bridge, how much more important is it to pay teachers who inspire or future generations with $150,000?

Unfortunately we don't have teachers like that.

I have had experience with children of different ages in different states and I am struck by the fact that many teachers are simply there for the hours that they put in and their students mean nothing to them. There are exceptions of course and those exceptions are needed in schools. If extra money is available then it should be devoted to hiring more people like those dedicated few.

If you are a teacher and you are reading this, please question yourself. Could you measure up against qualified professionals in what you do?

For example, do you present a professional appearance that might gain a student's respect? Do you provide an example for your students or do you descend to the lowest common denominator of teenage behavior in the mistaken idea that you are somehow connecting with your charges? Do your students follow you, or do you follow them? In the Denver school district you cannot tell a teacher from the most slovenly student. What sort of example is that? How could a student possibly respect what you have to teach them?

Students deserve the best education for the benefit of themselves and society.

Teachers don't deserve anything unless they earn it.

Learn more about this author, John Graham.
Click here to send Author comments or questions.