US/ND-1: US-ND: Two issues
US-ND: Two issues
Sam Simon (ssimon@idi.net)
Thu, 29 Aug 1996 17:43:52 -0700
Comments on two issues;
Teacher training. In Fairfax County Virginia there is a program for
Technology Resource Teachers, much like the Resource Teachers in Special
Education. My wife is an elementary school counselor and not technology
savvy. She has learned a lot from the Resource Teacher, both the basics
and ideas for integration into her work.
Turning Schools Systems into businesses:
Schools are educational institutions. There have often been
suggestions that they "resell" servcies of one sort or another to help
raise money. Marty suggests they resell dial-up accounts. At one time,
there was a grand scheme to turn schools into community technology
centers and by night the "business community" would use the various
faclities such as video conferencing etc.
It is a long term mistake to try and turn schools into
businesses, when in fact their resources, energy and creativity ought to
be devoted to their primary mission. The downsides are enormous, with
the cost not only the risk of losing money (remember NPR almost went
bankrupt trying to sell satellite time), it is opportunty cost -- the
loss of focus and priority.
There may be times and situations where it is approprite, such as
some examples given here in the more rural environments where schools
sysetms or governments (libraries) have helped seed the market through
subsidized situations. But as a general rule, I think, it is not smart
to look at resell opportunities as major funding sources.
What we need is taxpayers with the commitment to publc education.
The role of the new Telecommunication Act is, I think, to help
stretch those taxpayer dollars and focus school attention on the purchase
and integration of technology into the class room.
Sam Simon
--
Samuel A. Simon
President
Issue Dynamics, Inc. http://idi.net
901 15th ST. NW Suite 230 (202) 408-1400
Washington, DC 20005 fax (202) 408-11334