by Linda Whiting

Created on: November 30, 2009

Resources for teachers through the public schools are dwindling as Federal and State Funds are being cut. Programs like art, music, and physical education are being cut out of budget. The arts or physical activities give children an outlet for their energy. Some children are lost without the music, art, or physical education.

Teachers' jobs along with support staff positions being cut. Classrooms are becoming overcrowded. This leaves a teacher with 30 some students to one classroom. What is a teacher to do?

How about getting community involved and what does this involve for teacher? The teacher will have to get involved with the community. The teacher must be willing to talk about how to fix the problems with the community. Money may not be available, but resources like supplies or time can be donated. The Chamber of Commerce lodges (Elks, Eagles or), or Arts Centers are good places to start.

If a college is nearby, there may be students willing to do an internship at a school. This means a teacher may have to take time to go there and speak with the dean of a program. Sometimes students can help other students. If they have, their work, done or they grasp an idea this can free up the teacher to help more students. Students from other classes may be able to help in classrooms. Teacher may be able to talk to other teachers. This can be done in lower level classes. The school I worked in third graders helped in Kindergarten and first grade classes. This helps those students who have finished their work and like to help not to be bored. This can also lead to good citizenship.

There are parents who have music or art backgrounds. They may be willing to donate their time and resources they have to help with the classrooms. Parents are a great at helping out in classrooms or in some other way. Parent Groups such as PTA are good support for helping out with these tasks. Teachers can ask for donations, collect Campbell soup labels as a way of getting equipment for classroom. There are fundraiser's items that kids may be able to sell for a certain goal, carnivals, talent shows and numerous ways of getting help or donations. When the children are involved this helps to give the student ownership of their school.

There are also grants such as the United States Department of Education has on their web site ed.gov. The teachers may have to enlist help of other teacher or parents. The grants can be complicated, but they also have instructions on how to fill in the blanks. There is a need for their instructions to be followed carefully. There are also organizations that donate money, books, or other items to a classroom. It is just a matter of taking the time.

It is important for children to experience and be exposed to different things at school. There are ways of raising money such as selling fund raising items. Some children are not good at this giving them a feeling as being left out.

Finding clubs or organizations in their neighborhood that will be willing to support the local teacher may be a big job, but with the help from parents and organization. It can be done benefiting all involved. This can help the community feel involved with the schools, which in turn may help next time the budget is voted on.

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