Giving--To Help Education

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

—— (NAPSA)—Forty years ago, the U.S. high school graduation rate was the highest in the world. Today, it’s 19th, with just 70 percent of students successfully completing their high school education. But there are organizations and individuals across the country trying to change that. And they believe classroom technology can help. What Others Are Doing One such person is Ron Harper, who, along with his wife Katherine, founded the Harper Corporation in Charlotte, North Carolina. Harper believes ignoring the decline in education is akin to what hecalls a “silent disease”— something that will slowly but surely damage the nation’s future. He believes more hasto be doneto keep children interested and engaged in their schoolwork, so gsaeae placing interactive whiteboards in classrooms. one of its main goals, has an ongoing program of matching grants designed to place SMART Boards in Boston-area Catholic schools. “Technology has influenced and affected all major industries; it must be a central focus in our educational system,” said Katie Harper made a commitment to In the spring of 2010, working with Gaston County Schools Super- intendent L. Reeves MeGlohon, Harper launched the SMART Board in Every Classroom campaign. The SMARTBoard has always been the most popular brandof interactive whiteboard in the U.S. Combining the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer, SMART Boardslet teachers deliver dynamic lessons, write notes in digital ink and save their work—all with the simple touch of a finger. The goal of adjustments based on real-time fact and student evaluation.” SMART Board interactive whiteboards have also impressed Jessica Flores, president of The Riordan Foundation, of Los Angeles. The Foundation, launched 30 years ago by former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan, aims to provide all students, especially in low-income communities, with a A first-grader at work at an interactive whiteboard. Harper and McGlohon’s campaign wasto raise $4 million so that all 2,000 classrooms in Gaston County would be equipped with a SMART Board interactive whiteboard. The campaign reachedits goal in March 2011. Ron Harperis not alone in his efforts. In Boston, the Lynch Foun- dation, which counts education as Everett, executive director. “The interactive whiteboards are one vehicle we can use to integrate technology to a vast audience, tailor lessons and approaches, allow teachers to identify their students’ understanding of curriculum content and make high-quality education. Each year, the Riordan Foundation provides anywhere from $2-5 million in grants to schools, with some of that going to technology, including SMART Boards. “Technology has changed the way society operates; in order to succeed, chil- dren are now required to develop not only literacy skills but familiarity with technology,” Flores explained. “Technology today permeates every aspect oflife. It is crucial that classroom instruction be delivered in a mannerthat is engaging andthat prepares students to function in modern society. SMART Boardsfacilitate the development of these skills.” How You Can Help Parents, teachers and anyone concerned about education in America today can be a part of the solution by encouraging school districts to invest in this kind of technology and by donating to these and other organizations that can help them do so. For more informa- tion, visit www.smarttech.com or call 403-407-5128.

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