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Providing Computers For Needy Students
Filed Under "At-risk" students, Blogging in and out of the Classroom, Computers In The Classroom, The Way I See It
If you are growing up without access to a computer, the obstacles are huge. Consider that nearly 70 per cent of Canadians use the Internet to communicate and do research, according to Statistics Canada. Toronto Star
If you’re a student from a family that doesn’t have a computer at home, you’re at a huge disadvantage. At school, it’s assumed that everyone has a computer, a printer and internet access at home. Students regularly email their assignments from school to home and vice versa. I hear teachers telling students to check the department’s web page for information regarding an assignment. Teachers tell students to use spell check to catch errors. Students email each other when doing group work. If you don’t have a computer at home, getting assignments done becomes a challenge. The resource centre at school is packed before school, during lunch and after school with kids using the computers. It’s amazing.
In today’s Toronto Star I came across an article about an organization that provides refurbished computers to poor students. Three years ago Lara Tavares started Sky’s the Limit Youth Organization to provide refurbished computers to students who need them. Thus far the organization has given 320 computers to needy students. What a wonderful idea. I think that students in schools could donate the equipment that they no longer use and then it could be distributed to needy students. I’m going to look into that idea and maybe our school could do that. Our students are very generous Maybe your school could do the same thing.
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I am one of those needy students I am going back to school next week after not being able to find work in my home town and being caregiver for my 88 year old mother, and challenged ecomonically in every way a laptop would help in my studies for my degree
Alice,
I’m not sure what kind of help is available for you in your area, but I do know that public libraries give you computer access if you have a library card. There also may be an organization in your area like Sky’s the Limit Youth Organization that you could access. You may have to do a bit of digging. If you like, send me an email privately and tell me where you live and I’ll help you look on line. I could even call Sky’s the Limit for you because it’s not long distance for me. Just let me know.
Maybe someone reading this could help out with a lead to somewhere or someone in your area who can help you. All we can do is ask. You never know. Alice, let me know the general area you live in and let’s see what happens.