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babylonsister

(170,960 posts)
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 05:09 PM Apr 2020

50,000 Detroit public school students to receive free tablets, internet as COVID-19 closes schools

Some good news!

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/4/23/1939845/-50-000-Detroit-public-school-students-to-receive-free-tablets-internet-as-COVID-19-closes-schools

50,000 Detroit public school students to receive free tablets, internet as COVID-19 closes schools
Marissa Higgins
Daily Kos Staff
Thursday April 23, 2020 · 5:31 PM EDT


As schools closed across the nation amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, students transitioned to online learning. For kids and teenagers who don’t have reliable internet access at home or even a computer, however, keeping up with school can be a serious hardship. That’s been the case in Detroit, where the majority of students have struggled to reach teachers over video chat or use all the virtual resources, as reported by Detroit Free Press. The solution? A “Connected Futures” program is working to get every single public school student not only a tablet but high-speed internet access before June.

“We have risen to the challenge of this pandemic and found a way to forge something positive for our children,” said the mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan, as reported by local outlet Click On Detroit. “This will be a defining moment of pride in Detroit for many, many years.”


How does this work? For the first six months of the program, internet connectivity will be covered by the program in full. After that, the school district will cover it. District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti estimates that $17 million of the fund will go toward buying the tablets, and an additional $6 million will cover the internet. The students, grades K through 12, will own the tablets, according to Winnipeg Free Press.

To accomplish all of this, the program started fundraising just three weeks ago. Since then, they’ve raised $23 million. The program includes the Detroit Public Schools Community District as well as the Kellogg and Skillman Foundations, General Motors, Quicken Loans, and DTE Energy.

This is truly fantastic, and also a reminder that the internet should be considered a public utility, not a private service.
Relatedly, as schools have closed, other less discussed issues have finally gotten some mainstream media attention. For example, some states (and local communities) have stepped up to help get free breakfast and lunches to kids who qualify, as well as aiding food banks struggling to meet heightened demand. Taking care of the most vulnerable among us is one of the very basic tenets of what our government should do, especially during a global pandemic.
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50,000 Detroit public school students to receive free tablets, internet as COVID-19 closes schools (Original Post) babylonsister Apr 2020 OP
thank you, bsis. sheshe2 Apr 2020 #1
Daughter works in a big city school in Michigan. gibraltar72 Apr 2020 #2
That is wonderful ..... CatMor Apr 2020 #3
Our local high schools already had Chromebooks for every student... hunter Apr 2020 #4
So the alternative is have them go to school? jimfields33 Apr 2020 #6
Yay! DoBotherMe Apr 2020 #5
Fabulous! SheltieLover Apr 2020 #7

sheshe2

(83,319 posts)
1. thank you, bsis.
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 05:17 PM
Apr 2020

This is good news to hear. Thanks to all that have stepped up to the plate for Detroit.

gibraltar72

(7,486 posts)
2. Daughter works in a big city school in Michigan.
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 05:26 PM
Apr 2020

Not Detroit area. She said her school came up with Chromebooks for their kids.

hunter

(38,264 posts)
4. Our local high schools already had Chromebooks for every student...
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 06:04 PM
Apr 2020

... which may have eased the transition somewhat.

Unfortunately a lot of kids live in unstable homes where it's not possible to study. In addition to classroom learning, school is a place where they got a free breakfast and lunch and enjoyed a relatively safe learning environment.

Our schools are providing drive- and walk-up food services and the lines are getting longer with each passing week. I take this as an indicator of the stress parents and guardians are suffering.

Stressed out parents and guardians and computers are a poor substitute for schools.

Children who suffer abusive and other sorts of dysfunctional parents, and children who are homeless, are not going to be cheerfully completing their lessons on their Chromebooks.

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