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Tech Giants Donate $750 Million In Goods and Services To Underprivileged Schools

Posted by Soulskill on from the go-big-or-go-home dept.

mrspoonsi sends news that a group of major tech companies has combined to donate $750 million worth of gadgets and services to students in 114 schools across the U.S. Apple is sending out $100 million worth of iPads, MacBooks, and other products. O'Reilly Media is making $100 million worth of educational content available for free. Microsoft and Autodesk are discounting software, while Sprint and AT&T are offering free wireless service. This is part of the ConnectED Initiative, a project announced by the Obama Administration last year to bring modern technology to K-12 classrooms. The FCC has also earmarked $2 billion to improve internet connectivity in schools and libraries over the next two years. Obama also plans to seek funding for training teachers to utilize this infusion of technology.

6 of 143 comments (clear)

  1. COG by msauve · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So, Apple's donating stuff which costs them money to make (hardware). O'Reilly is giving stuff which doesn't cost them much, if anything (incremental cost). Kudos for that freebie, but Microsoft and Autodesk are likely making a profit with a "discount" on things with virtually no incremental cost. They probably consider it like advertising - they expect to make even more from future sales. Sprint and ATT are somewhere in between.

    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    1. Re:COG by TubeSteak · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "Underprivileged" schools really need basics like text books, notebooks, and pencils for the kids.
      Technology is not a replacement for the bare necessities that are missing in the most underfunded schools.

      --
      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
    2. Re:COG by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "Underprivileged" schools really need basics like text books, notebooks, and pencils for the kids.

      So? Are you offering to donate these? If not, then why are you sneering at the companies that are actually doing something, rather than nothing? You don't need a pencil to operate an iPad, and these poor kids will likely benefit more than most from exposure to technology.

  2. I Don't Get It by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't get it. Why not tax corporations properly and legislate against their exploitation of tax havens? With more government revenue you can properly fund the education system without having to rely on the condescension of corporate largess. The G-20 is meeting soon. Sounds like an ideal time to reform international tax law.

  3. Wow $100 Million by Art+Challenor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How about we just have Apple (and many other mega-companies) pay taxes at a reasonable rate then we won't need to fund education from "charity" (plus don't forget that the $100M is tax deductable, so it part of another tax loophole. Details here: http://www.americansfortaxfair...

  4. Where is the money to hire support staff? by zerofoo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    These gifts and grants are nice, but without long-term funding of support staff this is what happens:

    http://www.njspotlight.com/sto...

    You can't simply push tons of technology into schools and forget about it. The "light the fuse and run" approach never works. You need a staff of technology people who will train staff, maintain and repair the tech, and integrate the technology into the curriculum.

    Without adequate support, these systems will simply collect dust and end up in a storage locker.