This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
So fiscal experts estimate Becky Lockhart's plan to improve Utah's educational system would cost $750 million, with an additional half-billion each year ("Utah House speaker seeks massive tech infusion for Utah schools," Tribune, Jan. 31). But, let's just stick to her $500 million number. A Utah teacher with a master's degree and many years of experience makes about $50,000 per year, so we could hire 10,000 additional teachers at a high professional level from anywhere in the country, and close the teacher/pupil ratios gap.
Or we could hire 5,000 teachers and administrators at the highest levels with proven success records for highly competitive positions based on achievement, to work with teachers and provide on-the-spot teacher training (mentoring).
The computer systems we're asked to invest in have not produced the best results in our pilot programs, so why would we purchase them? So then what is the real reason Lockhart wants to replace teachers with machines?
Harold Katcher
Salt Lake City