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How To Help Our Public Schools With Technology?

armorer writes "I'm a programmer engaged to an inner-city public school teacher. I've been thinking for a long time now about what I can do to help close the technology gap, and I finally did something (very small) about it. I convinced my company to give me a few old computers they were replacing, refurbished them, installed Edubuntu on them, and donated them to her classroom. I also took some vacation time to go in, install everything, and give a lesson on computers to the kids. It was a great experience, but now I know first-hand how little technology these schools have. I only helped one classroom. The school needs more. (Really the whole district needs more!) And while I want to help them, I don't really know how. With Thanksgiving a week away and more holidays approaching, I suspect I'm not the only one thinking about this sort of thing. I know it's a hard problem, so I'm not looking for any silver bullets. What do Slashdot readers do? What should I be doing so that I'm more effective? How do you find resources and time to give back?"

3 of 378 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Inner-city schools by MaxwellEdison · · Score: 4, Funny

    I believe the plural of Prius is Prii. Also, nice troll.

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    -=Bang Bang=-
  2. Really?! by Peregr1n · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm not trolling, and don't worry about modding this question, I just want to read the answers.
    But... I assume you're in the USA? Does the government there really not equip public schools with IT facilities? I'm genuinely astonished. Surely schools have some facilities, if only a computer room for IT lessons? Is IT on the curriculum at all?!

  3. Re:Freecycle by Pope · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'd trade an old computer for a used firearm, sure!

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    It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.