Education Poll

Sara Ring created an education poll on Wikipedia.  The poll wants to find out if people believe that Wikipedia should be allowed to be used as a source.  I am torn on this poll question.  On one side, Wikipedia itself is not a credible source.  On the other side, Wikipedia sometimes give links to where the information was gathered.  In my class, students can use Wikipedia as a starting point.  Students need to check the sources to verify information.

Paper

Ben Johnson wrote a great article on paper use in the classroom.  Teachers use paper for everything and at times in become flooded with paper.  Students take notes, answer worksheets, and write papers everyday in the class room.   Johnson is sick of paper use and ponders what would school be like without a dependence on paper.  I think that technology can ease the dependence on paper.  I agree with Johnson’s idea about saving money with limiting paper usage in the classroom.  It possibly could encourage school districts to invest in technology that could cut costs of paper in the long run.

Protests

I read Eric Brunsell’s blog about the protest happening in Madison.  I agree with his post.  It is demoralizing when all you hear in the media is teachers being bashed.  Teachers have not been taking pay increase to keep their benefits.  If this continues who will actually want to become a teacher?  On another note, it makes me upset about the whole situation we are in.  Before our economic breakdown banks gave out home loans that they knew people would not be able to afford.  Foreclosures went through the roof.  No one was punished for what happened.  No changes were made.  The banks keep continuing to operate with no restrictions.  The country is in great debt.  The middle class lost a lot of money during our recession.  No we are trying to get out of this mess, and the middle class and the poor are the ones who have to clean up this mess.  It is very depressing.