Slash to the Future

There have been numerous discussions of late about school districts slashing budgets with everything from strings to teachers. And although I can understand the lack of adequate funding (even during non-recession periods), I can't understand how things are determined.

I have yet to hear trully groundbreaking cuts and supportive arguments for line items on the chopping block: yes, teachers aides, a few small extra-curriculars, perhaps some bus drivers and no pay raises for anyone. But teachers should be the very last thing considered to go; they are the key component of the institution.

How infuriating that sports are rarely ever eliminated; a few assistant coaching positions does not cut it (pun intended). If kids really want to play a sport for the enjoyment of it, they can join a local youth league or play with friends. In this budget era, no school can justify paying a head varsity football coach the equivalent of a college semester of tuition (in-state).

Other Suggestions:

Make students take ownership of their school by making them do custodial duties

Make home ec students prepare breakfast and lunch for their peers

Ask parents and community members to coach/tutor/etc

Place temporary caps on all administrative positions at a reasonable level - <$40,000

Invest in green technologies (perhaps make a major science unit lesson) to run school buildings more efficiently

Eliminate textbook purchasing by using online resources

Distribute education funds EQUALLY across all school districts within the state

No automative pay raises year-to-year for teachers

Build schools with strategically placed windows to reduce electricity use

Organize major recycling programs using as much school waste as possible

Require all seniors to complete an out-of-school internship in a their chosen career field for at least 1 semester to reduce the number of students in attendance at any given day and the number of teachers needed/reduce class load

Work out agreements with universities for students to take AP courses for the same reasoning above

Eliminate assistant principals and deans

Make athletic directors PT positions w/o benefits

One final thought: Try all of the above simultaneously. I know, I know, I'm such a radical.

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We Are Not Alone

No, this is not an entry about aliens but something much scarier: our virtual identities.

Most people under 25 don't much care about such a pesky thing; those 25-33 are wary but have jumped on the bandwagon; those older than that are still figuring out Twitter and Facebook. But nearly all people on the planet have at least 1 email address, social network account, and random snipets of identity easily googled at any moment. Increasingly, these things are meshing together.

A CNN article today claims that Google Buzz will catch on, mostly because the networking platform is already solidly established. Buzz essentially allows Google email users to blend status and postings elements similar to Facebook, Twitter and messaging. It already has a cross agreement with AIM and our favorite, Blogger! Add these types of self-posting forms with expanding online public records and you've got a hot mess of data zipping around.

This leads one to consider what the ramifications might be. How can one possibly keep secrets for business strategy, security, or personal gain? Will trail evidence need to be expanded (especially if one "confesses" online)? Will the concept of lying be eliminated? Will we eventually have one online identity that records every minutia? Will our social circles meld with our professional ones?

If these things happen I hedge a bet that getting a job will be much harder...as well as a date (who wants to date a neo-nazi with a Kabbala interest?). We should all remember what our mama taught us and be on our best behavior...

You never know who's watching....(cue scary music)

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