Possible Answers To America's Educational Leadership Concerns

It seems that America is at the breaking point when it comes to the way forward with education. Most American children lag far behind many other developed countries and the gap is widening. Society and our Educational Leadership has begged the question as to the best answer to solve what, some in the government see, is being called an issue of national security. It's the hope that, with emerging technology, America can once again get a hold of its lagging school and test results.

For many years now, schools across the country have seen a drastic drop in the number of education professionals and teachers entering the field. This has been largely due to, what some call, a static pay rate and poor classroom conditions. Over the years, the ratio of students to teachers has seen a sharp increase. Teachers have become responsible, on average, for more and more students and our classrooms are getting bigger. The complain is that our teachers simply can't provide the same results and quality of education when our classroom size keeps expanding. Teachers don't have the same one-on-one time that they used to have. It's the belief that technology could be the answer to this problem and some schools are taking this concept to heart.

One school in Independence, Kentucky has started a new program that is designed to dramatically increase a K-12 program to touch-based interactive technology. Twenty Seven iPads and accessories were given out to many of the kids in the district. The cost for all of the hardware was estimated to be somewhere in the ballpark of $30 thousand. This is only a trail run, but it's hoped that this test will prove to be effectual and both improving the quality of the students' learning experience and increasing their familiarity with technology. This familiarity is another factor that many educators believe will become a key component to our education approach as more of the world is becoming increasingly tech-savvy.

Captain Computer uses a tablet to experience
Alice in Wonderland in ebook format at the
National Book Festival

The program in Northern Kentucky more of an experiment than a preparation exercise, but this isn't the only effort among educators. Since teachers are becoming overwhelmed with the number of students entering the classroom, it's hoped that a more remote-based learning system could help alleviate an overburdened education system. Much of this would be through software programs that provide students of all ages with an interactive experience that would cover the basics of their lesson plans. The teacher would still be a part of the process, but in a more support and concentrated capacity.

Many opponents of the use of these technologies and programs argue that this isn't the answer and there's no substitute for a real-world teacher-student education. The belief is that high-tech solutions are only a crutch that's attempting to prop up an education system in dire straits. Whether this is true or not, one fact is certain, there is currently no concentrated effort to improve our lagging system. The only other nationwide initiative came in the form of President George W. Bush's, No Child Left Behind, program. The program was intended to improve the way schools run and how students are taught but the program was largely unsuccessful due to it's blanketed approach.

The inclusion and implementation of technology has long been a buzz word among many in education departments around the country but there remains much debate whether or not this is the answer. Technology, likely, won't be the only way forward but it could definitively help the cause to put our youth back on track. At this point, something needs to be done and more than one response will probably be needed. We shouldn't rule anything out give the static state of our education system.


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