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Jacob,

The problem with replacing teachers with WiiFit and GuitarHero is that it would cost the district much more than a teacher's salary to purchase enough hardware and software for 30-40 students to be active for and hour in class.  And, yes, legally a teacher needs to be present unless you want expensive law suits against the school for fights that break out over drug deals that would be going on between kids that really don't care to be playing WiiFit when they could be shooting up or smoking a joint since no teacher is around.

Besides, if you really knew what Physical Education and Music Education was all about, you'd know that it requires team-work, working together to produce a specific outcome that brings about a sense of accomplishment, community achievement, and it fullfills a sense of belonging.  Without them, that sense of belonging might be fullfilled in other ways that are non-productive to society, such as gangs.

Believe me, teachers are well aware of technology and have a desire to use it, and many do.  But it comes with a price tag, too! Figure it out.

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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You make it sound as if you know for a fact that teachers have not had salary cuts, raises witheld and that they don't have to pay for their health care like everyone else.  All I can say is - check the facts.  It's easy for people to say "They need to take cuts like everyone else."  When the truth of the matter is - they have.  And in addition to that, but everytime teachers or specials are cut, that puts additional responsibility onto the teachers left in which they are not compensated for.  Many teachers have up to 35-40 students in a class now, with no assistants, and no prep time - not even time to go to the bathroom.  You try working in those conditions and then say that the teachers haven't given anything back.

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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