Getting your money’s worth from tech-savvy schools

by Thomas F. Wilson, Ph.D.

The newspapers, magazines and airwaves are filled these days with discussions about the efficacy of our public schools, whether students are learning and whether our tax dollars are being well spent. In the past three years, the federal No Child Left Behind Act has propelled every state to ramp up hugely expensive student testing programs to identify which students and which schools are not making the grade.

There hasn't been much discussion or agreement about whether these massive testing programs will have any effect on student learning, but there seems to be an understanding that something must be done in the name of accountability. It remains to be seen whether this approach to K-12 learning will be a stellar success or yet another whipping boy for the politicians.

On the other hand, the extensive research conducted by many academics has established one undeniable fact: Students do better in school and acquire a high quality education if their parents are engaged in their education and make learning the most important priority for their children.

Interestingly, while there is uncontested consensus on this point, our system of governance has done almost nothing to promote or accelerate the engagement of parents by utilizing 21st century technology.

For the past six to 10 years, e-mail, Web sites and other electronic media have been available for myriad activities, including home-school communications. Sad to say, most schools and school districts are not making good use of this opportunity. Nor has the Minnesota Department of Education taken the initiative to lead the way. They seem to be too busy developing testing programs for the masses.

My first suggestion is that parents should share their home and work e-mail addresses with their schools, and those schools should e-mail relevant and timely messages to all parents at least once a week. No more school newsletters with weeks-or months-old information, which often go unread and are mailed at a cost the school can no longer afford. Good news, bad news, requests, opportunities, clarifications, job openings, rumor quashing, notifications, parent conference reminders and much more can be sent for pennies since computers and the Internet are already in place at almost every school and in most homes.

Some will rightfully complain that not all homes have a computer. But e-mail accounts are free, and online access is available at work, at the local library, at the neighbor's house, at the school and at some coffee shops and shopping malls. Parents who care enough to learn what their children are experiencing and what their schools are teaching will have no excuse for missing out on the most current news. And schools have no excuse for failing to seize on this opportunity except for lethargy, inertia or the fear of change. E-mail and listservs are faster, cheaper and smarter. If your school isn't already using them, what's holding them up?
Thomas Wilson was principal of Eagan High School from 1987 until his retirement in 2002. He speaks and writes on topics including the integration of technology and instruction.

School Web sites need an update

by Thomas F. Wilson, Ph.D.

For several years now, people who want to look for information or do business with any corporation have routinely done so by accessing the World Wide Web.

Most business Web sites provide loads of information about services, products, stocks, long-term plans, people and anything else that might promote the business and keep it foremost in customers' minds.

The same is true for other sectors of our society.

The Web is an important tool for those who want to learn about topics as disparate as the daily news, history, arts, music, the military and horticulture. Churches, charitable organizations and political candidates have Web sites to communicate their missions and to seek financial support.

Service clubs, recreation groups, health organizations, casinos, universities and airlines all have Web pages.

Want to learn what time the Vikings are playing or which movies are receiving rave reviews? Check the Web.

In stark contrast, if you want to learn more about your local school, best get on the phone to make an appointment with your child's teacher, counselor or principal.

Frankly, many things parents want and need to know should be on the school Web site, making it more convenient for parents and cheaper for schools.

What should parents expect to find on their school's Web site?

How about daily announcements to students; athletics, fine arts, and academic competitions; lunch menus; maps and directions to the school?
Many parents and taxpayers would be delighted to see school and district operating and capital budgets on line.

A roster of school employees, their work phone numbers and e-mail addresses and their academic and licensing credentials should be online.
Lists of academic opportunities would be useful to every parent, as would the school's mission statement and beliefs about how children, adolescents and young adults are valued.
Standards of behavior, field trip forms, class assignments, practice activities, academic integrity rules, student writing format requirements, graduation requirements, summer learning opportunities, course registration guides, demographic information, testing programs and school fee schedules all belong on the Web site.

Perhaps the greatest potential of the school Web site is the opportunity for the school (typically one of a community's largest businesses) to actually "do business."

Many parents would jump at the chance to check their child's hot lunch account balance online, and to use their credit or debit card to augment the balance. Teachers would no longer be plagued with the time-honored "milk money" chores and could focus on teaching and learning.

Using the Web, parents could pay field trip and wood-shop fees, insurance premiums and activity fees, and could buy sweatshirts and other promotional items.

Why is this not happening? Have we simply come to expect "not much" from our schools? Where is the leadership for utilizing technology to improve our public schools while saving precious dollars?

The state has chosen to skip this golden leadership opportunity, so it falls to the local school district leaders to get the job done.

But this is not happening at all in many cases, and ever so slowly in others.

The private sector has already determined that full use of the Web is the only way to trim costs and prosper, or even to survive.

It's time to make that a priority for our schools as well.

Thomas Wilson was principal of Eagan High School from 1987 until his retirement in 2002. He speaks and writes on topics including the integration of technology and instruction.

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