by Marianne Lange

Created on: July 13, 2008

As a teacher, I would have to say that money from "programs" doesn't go into the teacher's individual pockets. We often do see training which if employed properly will benefit students. We have also seen technology, hardware and software, added to our resources. This in turn will benefit students. Professional development will benefit students.

Many times, though, more than one teacher has thought that the whole testing, assessment, evaluatory thing benefits business. We have to assess students. Out of that need evolves multitudinous products and programs. Additionally, field tests, people to correct those field tests. Following this theme, schools who don't succeed with bringing the bulk of their students to a successful level, then need trainers to enlighten them. Following this, more teaching tools, more testing tools, more tests, tests, tests.

Every time a teacher attends a conference or training; every time a teacher attends a regional correcting session (sometimes these last three days), substitutes need to be paid. These are days out of the classroom. As a classroom teacher, who faces yearly state tests, this is disconcerting. Every time we administer a test, most take multiple days; that's teaching time lost. Periodically, schools are required to administer field tests. These are part of the process and part of the business. They also take several other days out of the teaching schedule. We are beginning to exist for tests.

We have to test. Tests need to be evaluated. The process has become very extensive and herein very costly. This is more than a multi-billion dollar business, but there are many grey areas. Students will benefit from teachers who are more highly trained. Teachers will benefit from better assessment tools that help them construct more technical and better lessons. So students do benefit.

As a teacher, I probably have as many concerns or questions as any person regarding money and education. Education is a big business. Just the process of becoming a teacher today, beyond the four year degree, content testing, certifications, application fees, videos and the list goes on; it can be staggering for the young professional who will not have an overwhelming salary but who will definitely have plenty of bills.

As a teacher, I am always disheartened when questions like this are asked. After all these years, I'm still too thin skinned. You will never fail to find unscrupulous people in any profession. Those who are selfish and self-seeking are everywhere in every walk of life, but most teachers I know genuinely care about their students. They look to better themselves to help their students and become more proficient at what they do. Often we're caught in between that meaning in the middle of a variety of groups. We fall between parents and administrators; we fall between parents and students; we fall between the State Education Departments and the media.

There's no great conspiracy, at least not on the classroom level. We are trying to educate children in the best possible way. For all those who would be critical of the American education system, I would ask you to consider this: we educate everyone regardless of disabilities, regardless of citizenship everyone regardless. Most of the rest of the world absolutely does not do this. I repeat, they do not do this. That's one reason everyone else's test scores are better and hence why we are immersed in this whole overhaul. Basically, programs are out there to benefit children. If some money gets sidetracked it's not into teacher's pockets.

Learn more about this author, Marianne Lange.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.