Baltimore public school system is the 25th biggest school system in United States. They have bought $200 million dollars worth of HP laptops for their students. They and other school systems are spending millions of dollars on laptops, apps, science, math software. It’s venders and marketeers visit classrooms. Classroom interaction is displayed in their corporate video for PR and for expanding marketing .
Schools Tech Market is expected to reach $21 billion by year 2020 in USA alone.
There is more hype but no concrete evidence that computers improve learning in the classroom. Tech companies are being compared with tobacco industry in 1960s when the tobacco industry big brands distributed free cigarette pack on streets near college campuses. Studies have proven that free sample to a doctor or a free vacation will result in more prescription value for Pharma industry.
Parents were trouble when Baltimore school district president Mr. Schmeldan said in a HP video, “We are going to need a thought partner like HP to tell us what is working”.
Have these academicians forgotten their prime concern that is student well-being. That concern may not always relate well to a corporate interest promoting its wares.
Mr. Reich of Stanford University says that schools must establish stricter rules in relationships to their tech vendors. Conflict of interest is very easy crime to commit. That crime will eliminate parents faith in the school system.
This apply to any school, Baltimore, Bujumbara or Bhopal. In India, we are impressed by the tech billionaires when they visit India, offer free apps and funds for our school systems in the name of humanitarian cause. Schools also spend their billions on software and hardware of such companies.
But Stanford Professor Reich’s warning on their conflict of interest should not be overlooked.
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