Chapter 9: Partnerships

"Schools need to prepare students for the workplace, and businesses need workers who are prepared not only in basic skills but in higher order thinking skills and problem solving that form the core of most new curricula" (Richards, 2001, p. 114). Our schools need funding and materials and one of the best ways to obtain these are through corporate partnerships. However, we must be careful to avoid some of the trappings of business (Richards, 2001).
Partners can offer great opportunities when it comes to technology for our schools. Many schools obtained both hardware and software as well as other benefits such as cable and TV materials (Richards, 2001). Still, our schools need to use each of these properly and avoid partnerships that seem too good to be true. As Richards states, we must not treat students merely as consumers (2001). Our schools need to maintain a learning environment, not a sales environment (Richards, 2001).
My school has many partnerships that help in funding our sports, academics and provide incentives for our students. I feel that our school does a good job at keeping the commercialism that can come with partnerships out of the classroom. Our students already are bombarded enough with advertisements. School should be a safe haven for them.
All in all, partnerships are beneficial, if used properly.

Resources:

Richards, J. (2001). Strategies for creating successful corporate partnerships. In LeBaron, J.F. & Collier, C. Technology in its place: Successful technology infusion in schools. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.