Tarboro NC - In response to: It was more than laptops in Greene County by Oliver Curtis Powell
Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 1:48 AM
Posted in Schools Edgecombe County
by DCN
Mr. Powell you say, "Edgecombe County School officials have been telling us that Greene County provided all students with laptop computers and as a result Greene County has had a large increase in the number of high school graduates that went on to college. Well, they did not tell us the truth."
Mr. Powell you say, "According to an Aug. 1 news report, presidential candidate John Edwards created a scholarship program for Greene County, starting in 2005, that paid tuition, fees, and books for Greene County students to go to college for free.
In the first two years, his program spent $600,000 for 190 Greene County scholarships. As a result, high school applications for college rose from 26 percent several years ago to 94 percent this year.
Unfortunately, Mr. Edwards in terminating the program after this third year. I suspect too many students enrolled and then dropped out after failing the first semester!
But the truth is: Laptop computers were not a significant factor in sending Greene County students to college and laptop computers will not send Edgecombe County students to college."
Mr. Powell the truth is that it does not matter if the children goes off to college but they will need to be able to use a computer even if they drop out of school. The children will need to know how to use a computer if they just go to the community college or into the workforce. Now we know everybody must go into the workforce at some point in time.
The real reason why the school system need to teach the children how to use computers is because most jobs require computer use. On my job as an assembly and test technician my work instructions are on a computer, I have to keep up with my time on the computer during the day as I complete projects. My pay check is on the computer and I must check my time to make sure it is complete so that my check will be correct. I schedule my vacation time on the computer. I have to go into my health and benefits on the computer to make sure they are all correct. We receive information from our managers be they onsite or offsite and other technicians. Whatever can be done on my job through a computer, trust me we do it.
Mr. Powell I attended the presentation that Dr. Steve Mazingo, Greene's superintendent and his staff presented in May and it was awesome. I videoed the presentation. The video that Dr. Mazingo and his staff showed was awesome also. It showed how creative the teachers could be creative even down to the band teachers.
Mr. Powell I was just reading a weekly email that I receive from NC Spin and this is what they had to say about John Edwards Scholarship program. . . . "Then we learn that he quietly ended a scholarship program he started in Greene County. The program, called “College for Everyone” promised free tuition to graduating seniors and 190 Greene County boys and girls have taken advantage of it, boosting the county’s college application rate to 94 percent in a county that has only 8 percent of the population holding an advanced degree. Why was it ended? We aren’t sure. It certainly seemed to be working."
I shared my concerns with the Education group during the Edgecombe County/Golden Leaf Community Initiative on July 29 during the break out session dealing with education.
If Edgecombe County do not invest in computers for the children then we will continue to get the same results.
I know there are some folks who have a problem with Dr. Steve Hoard because he was and is the driving force behind the computer initiative and they do not support the mission. I fully support his mission because I know the importance of why computers are a must for our children to survive in the future.
See related link:
It was more than laptops in Greene County
Sunday, July 8, 2007: Early College students will get laptops - Edgecombe County
Sunday, November 18, 2007: Tarboro NC - Schools get $1.5 million for laptops
Jeff Herrin's Rocky Mount Telegram Blog
Originally posted Saturday August 9, 2008.
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Saturday, August 9, 2008 - truth be known, computers for students, and 'older folks'
reading your response to mr powell regarding computers for edgecombe county students. the anti-computer attitude usually comes (and i think this time) from older folks who haven't used or become familiar with computers-so they don't see a need.anyone working today knows the importance of learning to use computers not just for college but for 'work'. going to college and coming back after the first semester? nothing new. about a decade ago reports were that about 25% going off to east carolina for the first year were coming home after first semester for a variety of reasons--not ready to be away from home, not ready for college, homesick, too much personal time when they should have been studying.. you name it.
at least those kids had a shot at college; returning home they still have need for computer skills; maybe the schools need to look more at job skills training--once in a while the four year degree gets in the way of getting a good job under a manager who doesn't have the college degree.
mr o.c. p is an intelligent and seemingly nice person; i guess he doesn't quite grasp the importance of more computer knowledge and skills in today's workplace. even countin' potatoes, you need a computer to manage where they go.
PS: hi.
Note: This comment was edited only to separate paragraphs. C. Dancy II - Editor
Edited by curmilus on Saturday, August 9, 2008 at 08:32 PM
Posted by Anonymous
Saturday, August 9, 2008 - In re: truth be known, computers for students, and 'older folks'
the anti-computer attitude usually comes (and i think this time) from older folks who haven't used or become familiar with computers-so they don't see a need.(I would think that Mr. Powell uses a computer however he somewhat has a problem with the way certain monies are spent in Edgecombe County. One would think that anything educational that would help with our children, everyone would buy into it.) TPA
anyone working today knows the importance of learning to use computers not just for college but for 'work'.
(Mr. Powell who is a retired military man should know the importance of computers. I can't believe he for one moment that he does not own a computer because he write very good articles to not only the local newspapers but to surrounding counties from time to time as well.) TPA
going to college and coming back after the first semester? nothing new. about a decade ago reports were that about 25% going off to east carolina for the first year were coming home after first semester for a variety of reasons--not ready to be away from home, not ready for college, homesick, too much personal time when they should have been studying.. you name it.
(You right on target. In 1998 when I ran for a seat on the Edgecombe County School Board I met a white man who said his daughter was attending college at the University of Chapel Hill and he said he had to hire a tutor for her. The man said that although she made good grades at SouthWest Edgecombe High School it was obvious that she didn't get all that she needed. So I said if this was a white child then I could imagine what many of the black children goes through.) TPA
at least those kids had a shot at college; returning home they still have need for computer skills; maybe the schools need to look more at job skills training--
(It is a must because computer skills will be detrimental to one's lively hood.) TPA
once in a while the four year degree gets in the way of getting a good job under a manager who doesn't have the college degree.
(You are right on target again. This reminds me of the presentation that when Dr. Mazingo said that the problem he had was not the children but it was the teachers who didn't want to learn how to use the computers and the parents were complaining about the teachers. Dr. Mazingo said he stressed to the staff that they would either get with the program or they would not have a job.) TPA
mr o.c. p is an intelligent and seemingly nice person; i guess he doesn't quite grasp the importance of more computer knowledge and skills in today's workplace. even countin' potatoes, you need a computer to manage where they go.
(Yes he is an intelligent and seemingly nice person from the many articles I have read that he has written to the newspapers. You are correct computers play a role in everything that we do directly or indirectly.) TPA
Edited by curmilus on Saturday, August 9, 2008 at 08:56 PM
Posted by C. Dancy II - TPA