I do not think we are ever going to be able to, for a long time

The words of Major Owens, “I do not think we are ever going to be able to, for a long time, get the kind of quality of school personnel that we need in our schools, especially in the areas of science and math. One of the answers to that problem is to use more educational technology,” ring like a solemn bell across the generations. In these words, the statesman acknowledges both a shortage and a solution. He speaks of the enduring challenge of finding teachers skilled enough in the fields of science and mathematics, the very disciplines that shape the engines of progress. Yet he also points toward educational technology as a bridge that may carry the young across this gap, ensuring that their learning does not falter though the ranks of teachers are thin.

Owens, who spent much of his life advocating for education and equity, saw clearly the burden upon schools in underserved communities. The brightest minds in science and mathematics often left the classroom for industry, where rewards were greater and recognition swifter. Thus, schools struggled, and children were left with fewer guides in the most critical disciplines. In his wisdom, Owens did not despair entirely, but sought to harness the power of technology to extend the reach of teaching, to make knowledge more available, and to supplement where human resources were lacking.

History offers echoes of this truth. When printing presses first spread across Europe, they did not replace teachers, but they multiplied the power of teachers’ words. A single book could carry the wisdom of one master into the hands of thousands. In the same way, the rise of radio and television brought lessons into remote villages where no skilled teacher could travel. And now, in the modern age, computers and digital platforms make it possible for a child in the smallest town to learn from the greatest mathematician or scientist across the globe. Owens’ vision was an extension of this timeless principle: technology multiplies the reach of knowledge.

Yet he was also issuing a warning. He did not say that technology alone could replace the human spirit of teaching. Instead, he acknowledged that until the day comes when every classroom is filled with masters of science and mathematics, we must lean upon educational technology as one answer. The true danger lies not in using these tools, but in ignoring them—leaving children stranded in ignorance while the world around them rushes ahead. His concern was not for technology itself, but for the future of the youth, who must not be abandoned simply because teachers are scarce.

This teaching is deeply relevant today. Around the world, nations still cry out for skilled teachers in the sciences. But online academies, open courses, and digital platforms now provide opportunities that once seemed impossible. A student in a rural village may study physics with materials from MIT, or learn mathematics from a program crafted by world experts. Technology, when guided by wisdom, becomes the ally of education, filling in gaps and raising the floor of learning for all.

The lesson for us is clear: when obstacles stand before us—be it a shortage of teachers, or the limits of geography—we must not give in to despair. Instead, we must ask: How can we harness the tools of our age to overcome? Just as ancient builders used pulleys and levers to raise stones that no man could lift alone, so too must we use educational technology to lift the burden that human limitations place upon us. The wise do not mourn the lack—they act with what is at hand, and in doing so, they open doors for the generations to come.

Therefore, let every parent, teacher, and leader remember: the future of learning lies not only in the hands of teachers, but also in the tools we provide them. Support the teachers who labor faithfully, but also champion the spread of educational technology, that no child may be left behind. Let the spark of knowledge, whether delivered by human voice or digital screen, be kindled in every mind. In this way, the prophecy of Major Owens may be fulfilled: that even when teachers are few, wisdom shall still flow, and the children shall still rise prepared to meet the world of tomorrow.