A NW High School to refuse free Macs!!??

[pretentious]

From the King County Journal (http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/134086)
Earlier this year, teacher Jeff Heiman applied for a grant from a nonprofit organization offering 30 new Macintosh computers and six laser printers to a school in an economically challenged community. The Tukwila School District, with a high number of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, fits the bill.

Heiman thought he had found an answer. When he found out in May that Foster won the grant, the math teacher was elated. The extra computers would give the students he'll teach next year daily access to a computer, which they need, he said.

But according to the school technology plan created in 2000, Tukwila schools will move toward using only personal computers, not the Macintosh, for financial reasons, Superintendent Michael Silver said.



This is just wrong, any other Puget Sound Mac users want to speak up against this stupidity?

[tazo]

i am just glad that was over in not-my-part-of-washington, WA

[solvs]

I'm in the Puget Sound area now. If this is true, I think I'll be visiting the school in person to find out what the heck is going on. BTW, doesn't he know that Mac ARE PCs?

Edit: After re-reading the article, the reason they don't want the Macs is because their techs want PCs. Of course they do. Job security. Most of them probably don't know how to even work a Mac. When my Mom's iMacs went down at her school, the tech was oblivious (too busy downstairs playing video games). I had them working in a few minutes. They should hire me for that job!

Seriously, this school has a bunch of Macs anyway. Now they could be given more free. But he doesn't want them because he'd rather pay for PCs. Good move. :rolleyes:

Hope he's fired for his ignorance.

(HE would be the superintendant)

[Abstract]

Even if you hate Macs. Even if you DESPISE them, and you're completely ignorant on the subject of Apple computers, why wouldn't you take them for free, anyway? Its like a homeless person given a ham and cheese sandwich: he doesn't necessarily like ham and cheese, but he would take it anyway because its free, and he's hungry.

Fools.

[e-coli]

About two years ago, the school was the winner of a $427,000 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant that calls for breaking students into smaller groups to maximize the time they spend with teachers. Foster's 700 students will belong to one of three ``academies'' that suits their interests.

Gee...do you think this has anything to do with their decision?

Fools. :rolleyes:

[QCassidy352]

not sure what you mean, e-coli. Why would breaking students in to smaller groups impact computer buying decisions?

[applemacdude]

Idiots.....:rolleyes:

[mactastic]

Originally posted by QCassidy352
not sure what you mean, e-coli. Why would breaking students in to smaller groups impact computer buying decisions?

Read the part about the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donations. Thats what he means. (I think, hope I'm not putting words in your mouth!)

[bitfactory]

May I suggest e-mailing the Superintendent of Foster.

Send a smart, thoughtful letter to: silverm@tukwila.wednet.edu

His name is Michael Silver.

[bitfactory]

i've emailed the superintendent (and a few others), and received this message back from Jeff...

I appreciate your support in this matter! Thank you for taking the time to inform Dr. Silver of your opinion...it is important that he hear from the public!

Thanks,
Jeff Heiman

this email was written on an iMac at school!

[Tim Flynn]

But according to the school technology plan created in 2000, Tukwila schools will move toward using only personal computers, not the Macintosh, for financial reasons, Superintendent Michael Silver said

That some backwards logic !
Turning down free computers for finacial reasons.

I think Michael Silver needs to go back to school ! Preferable not in his school district :D

[Abstract]

I sent him a thorough email.

The jist of my email was this: Macs are better, and never ****** with Mac users. :cool:

[Dont Hurt Me]

Originally posted by applemacdude
Idiots.....:rolleyes: No kidding, Macs are easier, work and a lot more safer then anywindows machine. A lot of folks dont realize that macs are better! They walk into walmart and think they have a computer.

[dkeninitz]

Originally posted by Dont Hurt Me
No kidding, Macs are easier, work and a lot more safer then anywindows machine. A lot of folks dont realize that macs are better! They walk into walmart and think they have a computer.

Speaking of WalMart, have you seen their "Lindows" machine? On topic, I'm surprised the school didn't at least accept the machines and sell them to raise funds.

[Jesus on OSX]

Not exactly bad news. I'll tell you why.

Many schools have aged apple hardware running OS8 or at best OS9. It really frustrates the users and they think all apple products are this slow/feature-deprived/etc.

Now I don't think anyone in their right mind would refuse eMacs running OSX.

When Lindows was intitially released for general consumption through Walmart, linux users were ranting about the event. The general displeasure could have been summed up in "When average Joe Sixpack uses this pseudo-Linux distribution on inferior hardware, they will think the OS is just crappy and would be reluctant to try other distributions in the future"

Yes. That is exactly the reason. I would rather have people not use horribly outdiated computers, than develop hostility towards the brand. I remember my peers cursing at my school's Performas back in the day and saying Apple was the gayest thing ever.

[Gus]

Actually, you are right. As Mac users, we are always proud of how well our machined run years after they are "outdated", but in school settings, kids are getting the impression that all Macs are like the ones in their schools. The school I teach at still has LCIIIs in the office for the secretaries. Now, while they are perfectly functional for what these people need, the kids that work in the office have no idea that those machines are over 10 years old and still running great. Who would think that having a product work so right for so long could actually hurt public perception. Some people. Sheesh.

Regards,
Gus

[MUrhino]

Hmm...this is a tough call. Mac's = education friendly for years...and FREE....or PC's = $$$.

Maybe I slept through all of my accounting classes but what kind of financial reasons would make someone turn away free computers?

[Remus]

Does this suprise anybody. I mean does Bill (Gates) want Macs in his own backyard :D

Though it is getting tougher to tell what his backyard is. It almost seems like it is the entire world.... :p

There seems to be a lot of resistance to Mac Technology.

RESISTANT IS FUTILE :mad: