Our economic situation is putting the strain on education, the very thing that needs the most nuturing and protection by the government.  School districts across the nation are preparing to start or have already started the school year minus many well-qualified, much-needed teachers and other support staff.  It's a sad state that we are in when schools are forced to cut teachers who have a direct and lasting impact on our country's future while the federal government holds millions of tax payers dollars out like bait to hungry, jumping fish.  Once the bait has been taken, school districts must decide how to wisely put the money to use while also examining where the financial future may take them.  Click here to read an article about this very thing. 

I've heard a lot about teacher cutbacks and salary freezes but I've heard very little about other creative and innovative ways to save money in our schools.  It seems that it is easiest to sacrifice the people rather than the stuff that clutters the halls of academia.  Districts are cutting teachers left and right but are still purchasing brand new computers for every lab in the school.  Superintendents and school board members are passing on pink slips but aren't crunching numbers on how to make the bus routes, utility consumption, and paper usage more financially sound. 

And what is going to have a more direct and lasting impact on our children's futures; the newly installed white board found in every classroom on the first grade hallway or smaller class sizes and more individualized attention and instruction?  I think our focus has gotten off.  We tend to think that the more equipment, or stuff, we have in the classroom, the better off our students will be.  But I say we need to downsize the purchasing of stuff and stop looking at the quantity of things and put the focus back on the quality of everyday learning.  Use the federal money to hire back those quality, skilled, and impactful teachers and between now and next year determine how you can cut back on the purchase, consumption, and reliance on stuff.  Our greatest resource is found in what people can bring to the world of education.