As a substitute teacher, one of the things I can’t help but notice (Since now I am sitting on the other side of the teacher’s desk) is how most of the students in the class don’t seem to care about doing their school work but a small minority does. It’s not a very encouraging sign. Even if you told the uncaring kids that not investing in their education now will result in a future as a checkout clerk at Wal-Mart, they won’t believe you.

I believe a lot of it rests with the parents. If the parents spend most of their time spending money at Wal-Mart (All those great, everyday-low-prices!) and not saving for the “rainy day,” why should their kids care? Perhaps a solution is a “good, better, best” one.

We tend to make buying decisions based on how much money we have. If we have a lot, and we’re not cheapskates, we will buy what is best and so on. The same could be done with school students. Public education seems to lump all the kids, gifted, good and mediocre into a single group and then leave it up to the teacher to sort it out. This isn’t good. What is needed are classes that can work with a particular group and not have to worry about poorer students falling behind or better students perturbed with feeling “stuck.” Obviously, there will probably be a stigma associated with students who are in “the slow group,” but it’s better than not learning at all. One size does not fit all.

I find that the use of technology in education will not make a poor student better. This is advocated by those who will make a fortune in selling the goods that make elearning possible. What does is time, patience, an understanding and caring teacher and a student willing to learn. Technology in and of itself is not education. It’s just a vehicle to help with the educational process.

Joseph W. Humes