Blanket Rules Suffocate

There's no arguing that technology is growing by the day, by the hour, even by the minute. Children are exposed to a larger array of gizmos and gadgets now than ever before, and technology is moving forward whether they're on board or not. Nevertheless, it is not reasonable to force teachers to incorporate modern technologies into their classrooms.

Some schools are not at all prepared to back up that rule. Math teachers in poor school districts may not be provided technology such as laptop computers, smartboards, or maybe even a simple graphing calculator. It is not fair for students in poor districts to be neglected, but neither is it fair to impose a mandate that demands teachers implement new technologies in their lessons. If a teacher can teach his or her subject, motivate students, and make an impact on their lives, that is precisely what they are meant to do.

What needs to be done is precisely what is happening today. Future teachers are being prepared for the technological demands of the future by taking classes that teach them how to use them. Up until a few minutes ago, I had never made a blog post in my life. Now, through a mandatory college-level class, I have gained some experience in a new area of technology. There is now the possibility that I introduce my students to "math blogging" or something of that nature when I begin teaching in two years. Teachers need to be provided with the means and taught the skills necessary to use technology themselves if schools expect them to teach those lessons to their students.

As time passes, innovations will be incorporated into the classroom naturally. At some point, the simple technology of dry-erase markers replaced chalk in many classrooms. Computer programs such as Microsoft Word have pushed traditional paper and pen to the side. Schools will incorporate technology into classrooms without requiring an unattractive rule.

Before we name technology as our education system's top priority, we need to look at other issues. School funding needs to be spread out more. Teachers need to be trained more rigorously. All students need to feel more safe and welcome in their school. Technology is important, especially today, but these issues are more pressing. Modern technologies, I have found, can make the classroom more fun or perky, but forcing it upon teachers is not the way to increase its use.

Who Let the Blogs Out?

Okay, okay. I'm really sorry about that pun...well, at least kinda sorry. It's just that there are waaay too many puns involving the word 'blog' for me to pass up an opportunity to use one. (I had considered something involving "sleeping like a blog," but I thought better of it. Perhaps I should have thought better twice.)

My name is Joseph Benjamin Matuch, but I typically go by Joe. I think I can count on one hand the number of people who have called me "Joseph" or "Joey," but as a future math teacher I really should be doing that kind of thing in my head by now.

When I'm not here in beautiful Central Illinois, I reside in a middle class home on the far northwestside of Chicago. That's in Chicago. Yes, Chicago proper; you read correctly. Even though I live blocks away from the suburbs on three sides, I've seen quite a bit of the inner city. My formal education, prior to UIUC, took place entirely within the Chicago Public School system. I've seen plenty of good teachers and plenty of teachers who, let's say, have lots of room for improvement.

I'm here at Illinois because I knew and still know that this is the best place for me to obtain my degree in mathematics and teacher certification. I haven't always wanted to be a teacher, but I'd say that has been my plan for about four years now. I want to do more than teach math, though that is an important aspect of being a math teacher. Here at UIUC, I want to hone my skills and learn as much as I can before going out into a school still not totally prepared. That may seem cynical, but as much as a teacher might think he or she is ready for the classroom, there's still so much to learn on a daily basis. When it comes down to it, I'm here to learn as much as I can, gain as much experience as possible, and ready myself for all the unexpected challenges that pop up during my first day in a classroom.

Where that classroom will be, I'm really not sure. I know that I'll be teaching at least five of my first eight years in a "school of need" as part of a scholarship agreement, but schools of need are everywhere. I could be back in downtown Chicago or out in a small rural community. I suppose that's where my faith takes over. I'll be praying that I make a good decision in less than two years because honestly, I believe there's only one being who knows where I'm headed. As far as I can see, I'm pointed in the right direction.