Technologies in the classroom at teacher's expense

      During the teacher interview on NETS that I conducted for the last interactivity, a eye-opening issue came to my attention.  As I was being informed of how in the school where the interview took place, there are scarcely sufficiently technological resources and initiatives being implemented, the teacher also mentioned how certain instructors have decided to purchase technology devices for their classroom from their own personal funds.       
     Moreover, he admitted how they surely will not be compensated for providing these resources at their own expense if the administration doesn't recognize the purchased element as crucial for instruction.
This insight I gained from the interview caused me to deeply contemplate this issue of purchasing class materials from one's own budget.  Despite, the fact that I was aware that teachers are occasionally requested to purchase some materials from their own pocket, the matter of possibly proceeding to buy a useful resource for my class and afterward not being compensated for it, is one of real concern for me.  I believe that these flaws in classroom funding and support are what discourage potentially effective teachers from pursuing a career in education.  Teachers who wish to provide their pupils with new materials and technological elements are faced with the situation of compromising their personal financial means in order to do so.  In certain cases, a teacher simply cannot afford to purchase an efficient resource even if he/she is willing to pay from his/her own funds and not be compensated for it.
     After pondering all this and reflecting how many teachers nonetheless, sacrifice part of their personal funds to grant their students access to modern technology, I couldn't help but to feel a tremendous sense of admiration for them.  Educators like them, set an example of selfless commitment to improving their students' learning experience.  Unfortunately, since lack of funding for innovative resources is becoming increasingly prevalent, these noble educators are being taken to the limit in what they can offer their students.  If I were in the position of these teachers, I cannot claim that I would also undertake such an act of generosity.  However, I would actively advocate the important benefits of implementing serviceable technology to enrich course content and instruction.  I also would definitely use the technologies that are at my disposition (Ex- TV, VCR, Media center) in innovative ways to captivate my students' interest and participation.  In doing this I hope to prove that proper application of technologies can indeed make a difference in student learning.