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What's the good of having a teacher is there isn't anyone to teach or any tools with which to teach? You can teach all the theory in the world but it won't do the recipient a bit of good if he or she has no means of putting it to practice. My own personal experience is an easy demonstration. I've been taught software applications and then been in a work environment that did not offer me the opportunity to put the theory, and yes classroom application, to practice. You don't use it, you lose it.

Probably one of the best demonstrations of why you should have the resources first can be gleaned from the highly educated population of the country of Cuba where I have been likely 100's of times. I've had the wonderful opportunity to work with the women and children in that country; in homes, schools and churches. With every trip I make to Cuba I bring school supplies; simple things like pencils and the paper to write upon. That's another story!

There is not one person in Cuba who does not have at least one university degree. We'll stick with the subject matter of this essay, teaching. The teachers are frustrated to no end for they are teaching classes as large as 100 students and they have very little by way of resources to teach the students with or provide for them to have hands-on experience. Cuba is well known for its higher education standards, yet the country itself suffers because the resources are not to be found within its boarders. Everything of value seems to be used to benefit the government pockets. The medical profession uses its expertise in other countries of the world to heal their problems.

There are many, many teachers in Cuba and I've met many that I don't even know I met. Where have I met them, you ask, and why don't I know I met them? I have met them in the resort hotels where I stay or visit to dine. They are waiting tables to try and make a living. Some of them do this full time, some to supplement their income so that they can purchase some item to help them in their teaching profession.

We can learn from Cuba and what it means to have a surplus of teachers with no platform for them to utilize their education and abilities to further the education and lives of the young people of the country.

This article would appear to address the public school system, which thankfully is free of charge to the Canadian citizen. If we had to pay to go to school, if we had to pay for our children's books for the lower grade studies (pre-university), how many of us in this country could afford to send our children to school.

As to the resources, we can teach without extravagant gadgets and things. We can teach the basics because the cost to the student for materials is minimal (pencils and notebooks, but textbooks are supplied). But, because of the diversification of our school systems, because teaching has grown with the advancement of technology into a profession requiring technology, in order to keep up with the expectations and needs for our students, the tools to teach have become more costly.

Let's get some balance in our schools between teachers and resources. Otherwise, we are producing a profession that will ultimately end up without positions in their chosen profession.

It's like my own profession. There are more lawyers, almost, than citizens (well, I exaggerate). There are plenty of them driving taxis, waiting on tables and doing whatever needs to be done to make a living.

Give teachers the means to provide the end results we are seeking as parents and students.

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