If you’re like most schools you’re still trying to host assemblies, drama productions and school talent shows on a sadly outdated school sound system that’s limping along on its last legs and requires far more repair and tender loving care than it’s worth.

Granted, history is important, but isn’t it time to let the past be in the past and enjoy learning about the history of audio/visual technology in a slightly less “hands-on” way?

Having a good school sound system for your school is important. If your school sound system is helplessly out of date you’re probably spending half of your time in front of the school body shouting at the top of your lungs and hoping that somehow, somewhere, somebody is paying attention.

And how often does that happen in a room full of over stimulated elementary school students and/or “too cool to be in school” teens?

No, an updated school sound system isn’t a luxury when you’re spending time working with an audience that might have a great deal invested in what you have to say but will never actually know because they can’t hear you. With a new school sound system you could actually reach those kids in the back of the row that are looking bored because they don’t want to be seen straining to hear.

A new school sound system could help you make your point with enough vehemence to get people excited.

A new school sound system could change lives.

You’re probably sitting there thinking that’s a little bit of an overstatement. You’d be surprised at the difference a new school sound system can make when it comes to helping you get your point across. Students are well aware that most schools are underbudgeted, understaffed and helplessly bulging at the seams with kids who come looking for an education (or a way to avoid their truancy officer).

They think schools don’t care, a belief they’re happy to back up by pointing at the fact that no one in the school’s administration has bothered to replace the sound system even though it’s hopelessly out of date.

It’s like not bothering to buy a new television when your old one breaks. You're basically saying it doesn’t matter enough to be worth the money you spend. Making your school a quality institution should matter. It should be worth it.

When your students know that you think they’re worth the time and effort of creating something new, up to date and modern for their use, they’re going to spend a little less time “trashing” the school and a little more time doing what’s important-listening to what their educators have to say.

Can you imagine the difference you could make if you could know that, just for a moment, you had the complete and undivided attention of the entire student body? No cell phones, no PDAs. Just a roomful of students anxiously waiting to hear what you have to tell them.

It should be worth taking the time and effort to look into the possibility of creating a new school sound system.