The Educational System/Blog#5

Educating Children of Katrina-this article was a great read and I am glad to read that there was someone that the U.S. Government cared about during this horrific time. I'm glad that it was the children that were able to reap some benefit out of this horrible situation. I was truly impressed at how they were able to move the children to other states and educate them, even though there was some concern over how they would be educated. The initiative of compensation for the schools that took in the children was a little perplexing. Up to 135 students and the school could receive $1 million dollars. If there is $1 million dollars laying around, why was that money not invested in schools in inner cities that don't have the supplies they need to educate their children. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with the funding that they did for the children of Katrina but c'mon, $1 million is a little exorbetant.

Teacher's Cost of Living Matters-now this article was interesting for sure. I personally think that Teacher's salaries are horrible and that teachers should definitely make 6 figures.  I think this because they educate the future leaders of tomorrow and they are not compensated. They help to educate our future doctors, lawyers, business owners, actors and actresses, NBA players, CEO' s and they are paid like peasants. I found it interesting that in Los Angeles or New York that salaries are somewhat high for teachers but by the time the cost of living for that city is figured in, it's roughly about a $10, 000 decrease, give or take a dollar. I find it interesting that no one is really fighting for a huge pay increase for our nation's teachers. I feel if teachers were compensated adequately, the school systems would also get a major benefit.

Green Schools Don't Make the Grade-this article was different and the thought of a green school is a phenomenal idea. The problem is that green schools sounds like they would be very expensive because of the time, energy, and effort that goes into running a school like this. The renovations alone to make a school green is a high cost. I think that the idea of a green school is a novel idea but an expensive feat. I wonder what it would cost to send a child to a green school?

Hidden Problems of Child Farm Workers-this article was good but disturbing. I did not know that children were still being exploited for cheap labor, at least not in the U.S. The article and videos primarily showed that the children being exploited presently were children of migrant farmers. This article helped to tie into the book, Crossing Over that was read for this course. In the early 1900's and late 1800's, children were exploited for cheap labor but I think the thinking and way of life played a huge role in child workers being exploited during this time period. The U.S. was lucky o have had FDR as a president because he helped to bring about great change in this country and without his influence and enacting laws in reference to child workers, things would have not changed. Unfortunately, migrant workers today do not have a choice. The migrant workers come to this country for a potentially better life and end up having to have everyone in the family work to make ends meet, even the children. So, this effects the child's ability to go to school and get a solid K-12 education, which in turn makes them drop out. The MET program is great for migrant children who are unable to complete a regular K-12 education. I find this program excellent from doing some further research.

Sesame Workshop-interesting article and great read. Sesame street is a great educational tool for young children to start learning at an early age and Sesame Street is a great resource. I, probably like most of my classmates here, have grown up on Sesame Street and have great memories from it. The funding from the PNC is extraodinary.

I don't teach but during my time in K-12 education, I was unaware of a lot of these things because I was caught up in my own world not concerned about any of these things. Of course, there were no green schools, or to my mention any mention of green schools. Sesame Street was a program that I grew up watching because it was educational and it helped to start some type of educational school setting learning before actually going into the educational school system. I have great memories from my Sesame Street learning days and I hope and pray that when I have children, they will be able to have that same opportunity.