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As a teacher, I have dealt with this issue personally and have acquired enough experience and training to begin to fully appreciate the benefits of having experience and training. Books, computers, desks, and things do not make a classroom. People make a classroom. Books, computers, desks and things have never succeeded in teaching any child when used alone. People have succeeded in teaching a child, even when those people had no books, no computers, no desks, and no things.

Don't believe me? Imagine a five year old walking into a classroom for the first time. Imagine that the room is filled with impressive items: computers on one side with the newest programs and state of the art technology, book shelves on another filled with the finest beginning readers and thrilling children's books, and decorated bins in the back of the room filled with art supplies and educational games designed to set a child's imagination in flight. Now imagine that the room has no teacher. Will the child know how to sound out the words in the books or even recognize the letters. Will the child know how to turn the computers on? Will the child know what to do with the art supples or the games?

Of course not. Children must have teachers. Not just any teachers. Good teachers.

Most people realize that having teachers with excellent teaching skills in the classroom is imperative. Unfortunately, few people realize how difficult it is for those teachers to acquire those excellent teaching skills.

In my first year of teaching, I found myself in the fortunate position of having excellent resources. The school was new, only about three years old. I had dry erase boards on three of the walls in the classroom. I had eight student computers on one side. I had a bookshelf filled with lesson plan books and student materials. I had a projector that I hooked my personal computer to and was able to show videos and slide shows. I had a big television with a DVD player and VHS and the freedom and ease to use it as I chose.

My third year of teaching, I had moved to another school district. Gone were the dry erase boards on all sides. Gone were the eight student computers. Gone was the book shelf with the lesson plan books and student materials. Gone was the projector and my personal computer. I still had a big television with a DVD player and VHS, but the school's policy was that every video shown must have paperwork and administrative approval behind it first. Gone was the freedom and ease to use the television

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