rudimyers writes ““The 30 laptops and wireless networking that make it possible were paid for through a nearly $70,000 grant the school received earlier this year from Intel Corporation.
School officials pursued the grant after they realized it could be some time before the Olympia School District would be able to afford the equipment.”
This problem exists everywhere. Think of the implications of teachers writing grants. When spending time doing that, what is going by the wayside?
Story at The Olympian Online.”
Grant Writing is Common in Education
“Think of the implications of teachers writing grants. When spending time doing that, what is going by the wayside?”
Do you know many educators? Grant writing is a common activity for many teachers, since education at times can be poorly supported by local, state, and federal governments. As someone married to an educator and having contact with all her colleagues, I can tell you that the teachers writing grants are NOT harming their students. These are the same teachers that spend excessive time preparing for lessons and working to improve their teaching skills. All the educators I know that have submitted or were awarded grants probably worked at least 10-12 hour days, everyday of the year. The only ones that may be suffering are potentially their families, not the students. Nothing is tossed to the wayside to a write and administer a grant, they sacrifice personal time for these activities.
Re:Grant Writing is Common in Education
“All the educators I know that have submitted or were awarded grants probably worked at least 10-12 hour days, everyday of the year”
I would argue that it does hurt students if this is what is required to be a good teacher in our current system, as it would lead (and has lead) to a shortage of good teachers and a high burn-out rate, (especially given the insultingly low pay many teachers have to put up with for the work they put in).
My hat is off to anyone who manages to be a good teacher in the current system, but the system seems stacked against attracting, developing, and retaining good teachers
grant writing effects
“Do you know many educators?”
Yes, I am one. I have been in education for thirteen years. Notice I did not say that the students would be effected or the quality of the teaching would go down. However, that is a potential concern in small instances.
You made a good point that families are affected. Teachers already spend so much time working. They go early and stay late. They work weekends. People point to the two months of “free summer”, but most teachers take classes or work on their units. I guess the main issue is WHY. WHY should teachers have to spend what time they DO have with their families on BEGGING for money that should be there in the first place?
I look forward to reading the comments on this…