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in the trenches of education; teachers and students.

There are often efforts by districts to provide teachers training that makes them more effective educators. They provide technology training but balk at providing adequate technology. For instance one district provides 4 computer stations per classroom and then crams 30 or more kids in that classroom. Or districts pay for online grade and attendance systems but fails to provide teachers computer access during off periods to make use of the system. These are examples of the training coming before the resources. Sort of like teaching a Marine how to use a new high tech weapon and then never providing the new weapon for use or continued training. Again, the training is cheaper and easier to undertake but meaningless if the resources are not there for teachers to actually use it to benefit students on a daily basis.

In every district I have worked in money was spent to hire consultants who came in to teach us new methods. Very often the consultant was trying to sell us a book, program, or system that would help us be more effective in the classroom. The consultant's fee was paid, the training occurred, and then we were told by administration to apply what was learned in the classroom. Now even the consultant admitted it required some resources but districts would never provide them. The end result? Money wasted on what could have been a good idea but was dropped for lack of resources to support it.

I have often fielded the complaints of parents and students who seem to think teachers have the power to change how and where money gets spent. Guess again, "Look I am the hired help, you or your parent can call a school board member and raise hell if you don't like how things are." Or another favorite of mine, "Why do states spend more money per prisoner than they do per pupil? Simple, they sue the state when they perceive they are being cheated. If you want things to change exercise your right as a citizen of this nation." Often in response the complainer would stare back angry that the solution will require them to actually do something instead of just whining about it.

Back to the issue, before we can train teachers to be effective in a modern classroom we must provide them the tools to do the job. Its always frustrating to hear industry and business leaders bitch that schools are sending them employees who can't use computers, think critically, and have poor work ethics. Yet, these same leaders will wail when asked

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