Generosity, or "Sometimes, you just have to ask."

As noted in an earlier post, I'll be teaching AP Statistics in the fall. I pushed for the assignment with both the Math Department head and the principal, and now I get to wonder if I should have been careful what I wished for. Still, I'm very excited about the opportunity. Only one person from MHS in the past 6 years has passed the AP Stats exam, and only a couple of others have even scored a 2. I believe I can do better, but of course, I have to prove that.

One thing I wanted to do immediately after I got the assignment was to go to a summer institute course for new teachers of AP Stats, to learn some techniques and methodologies that would benefit my students in their attempt to pass the exam. It cost $650, and was to be held at a local college here in My Town. So I asked the principal to send me, and he said the school didn't have the money. That ticked me off.

So I decided to ask my friends for donations in order that I could do things like attend the summer institute, purchase graphing calculators for the students who couldn't afford them, and buy other miscellaneous items I will need to help the students pass the exam.

So far, I have commitments for $650, and I have a meeting next week with a senior executive at the company where I used to work, to discuss having the class work on a project for him. That discussion will, of course, include conversation about a donation, either personally from him or from the company, or both. I expect to get a significant contribution stemming from that meeting. In addition, I mentioned my quest to my daughter, who replied that she had a perfectly good graphing calculator she would never use again, having already graduated from college (and law school). Moreover, she was sure most of her friends did, too. She posted her (my) request for graphing calculators on Facebook earlier today, and is already receiving responses.

So it looks like I'll be able to provide my students the tools they'll need to be successful. Now, it's up to them to learn the material. And, of course, me, to teach it.