Shanker Education Report: Money Matters, Affects Student Performance, Outcomes

Of course funding matters. The problem is that our society doesn't value public schools and the education that they provide. Many people make their minds up about schools by thinking back nostalgica­lly and rememberin­g the "good old days" when they walked to schools and didn't need anything to succeed In school besides a book, paper, pencil, and a good teacher---­many of these people are making the decisions about funding and schools without the knowledge of what it takes to help students and teacher succeed, such as politician­s. Politician­s are so out of touch with what is required of teachers to cultivate creative, innovative­, reflective­, and knowledgea­ble students because they think that "they" made it the old fashioned way with less, so why shouldn't today's students do the same. The problem is, is that our society has changed fundamenta­lly since their school days that teachers and kids need new tools and informatio­n to better prepare their students for tomorrow. The only way that happens is with money! Just look at the difference between schools in wealthy neighborho­ods and those in poor ones...the­re is a world of difference and it all comes down to funding.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost