FORT MITCHELL — Kentucky Congressman Ken Lucas turned to the Tristate's most famous teacher Friday to hype his proposal for more computer training for teachers.

        Mr. Lucas tag-teamed with Rodger Bingham, the local contestant on the CBS hit show Survivor II: Australian Outback, to promote the 21st Century Teacher Training Act.

        The bill would provide grants and tax credits to help teachers get technology training to better serve their students.

Ken Lucas and Rodger Bingham promote the 21st Century Teacher Training Act. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        “In order to "survive' in this worldwide economy, students have to be not only literate, but computer-literate,” said Mr. Lucas, a Boone County Democrat.

        The two met for the first time at Mr. Lucas' Buttermilk Pike office Friday.

        Mr. Bingham, a Grant County High School industrial arts teacher from Crittenden, has gained nationwide fame as one of 16 participants on the reality TV show.

        And Mr. Lucas is hoping Mr. Bingham's endorsement will bring more attention to his bill, reintroduced this week in Congress. It wasintroduced last year but didn't make it out of committee.

        “Folks have a lot of computers, but they don't have the training to teach the students,” Mr. Lucas said. “We found that the students are teaching the teachers in most cases.”

        The bill would provide at least $10 million for competitive grants to education agencies to offer training for teachers to integrate computers in their classrooms. It would also create a tax credit of up to $1,000 a year for teachers to buy technology equipment for their homes or seek other training.

        And the bill would offer incentives and tax credits to businesses that donate computer equipment to schools.

        “It's a good deal,” Mr. Bingham said. “I can't see any reason why anybody would be opposed to this bill.”

        Computers are a big part of Mr. Bingham's job.

        He teaches a freshman technology class, a 21st century version of shop. Students do most of their work on computers, using flight simulators, computer-aided design and a computerized milling machine.

        Teachers at Mr. Bingham's school have had some computer training, he said, “but we could always use more.”

        As for Mr. Bingham's new found stardom, Mr. Lucas said he has represented Kentucky well.

        So, is the congressman a Survivor fan?

        Well, he's been too busy to watch the show, he says, but “I read about it to keep up.”

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