Teacher/Social Ac tivist?

I've been thinking lately, about how on earth the topics of Social Justice and Technology in education are related. When I first think of Social Justice, I think of equal access for all students. I think about challenging biases, not just racial biases, but gender inequity as well. I think about my role as a social activist, and how my impact on my students can be profoundly good or profoundly bad. What does this have to do with technology in education?

When I teach at a school that has resources to use technology in my lessons, of course I'll be sure all students in my class have equal access. But there's the problem...not all schools (even if they are in the same district) provide equal access to their students. I've been blessed enough to have two teaching assignments in brand new schools. New equipment, new technology, clean, well-maintained, the kind of schools you'd like your kids to attend. Then again, I've been blessed with an assignment at a very old, dilapidated, crumbling school. The equipment was a mish-mosh of old barely-working computers, worn-out furniture, and well worn books that were stained and dog-eared. The students were 90% second-language learners, whose families struggled to provide the basic essentials for their children. 95% of the students were receiving free lunch.

It's easy to understand why working in new schools with new technology would be wonderful for teachers and students alike. However, there is one thing that stood out in working at the old school - the teachers. Most of the teachers at this school had been there for 15 or more years. It was apparent that they were there, and stayed there because of their commitment to their students. These teachers worked so hard, with so little. It was amazing! I was fortunate to get to know and learn from them.

I wonder how much more the students would have learned if their amazing teachers were given updated, working equipment, and the training to use it? This school didn't have the problem the other new schools did, with students using cell phones and !pods. The families of the students at this school could barely provide phone service for their own homes, much less cell phones and entertainment devices for their kids.

So, my question is this: "How will the students from the old school be able to compete with students from more privileged backgrounds when they move on?" Children learn new technologies very quickly, and even if they don't personally own an X-Box or an !pod themselves, most will be able to figure it out very quickly. So what will it take to make sure all students are given access to today's technology, so they are able to compete on a level playing field in today's world?





Beside the role of teacher, I think it will be my job to be an advocate for my students. If the technology isn't in our classroom or at our school, how can I get it? I'm going to have to be more assertive and creative in finding ways to get the students what they need to compete. I am also going to continue to learn and grow at the same rate as the world around me. I've been guilty of allowing a learning gap to develop when it comes to technology. I'm catching up now, but I don't want that to happen again. My students deserve a teacher who is at the top of her game, so they can be at the top of their game!