Comments on: What If Every Child Had A Laptop?

Lesley Stahl Reports On The Dream And The Difficulties Of Getting A Computer To Every Child

[SherryBaby62]

DISCRIMINATION

Mr.Negroponte should be just as equally concerned with educating poor children here is the U.S.

The United States is falling when it comes to international education rankings.

In a 2003 study conducted by UNICEF that took the averages from five different international education studies, the researchers ranked the United States No. 18 out of 24 nations in terms of the relative effectiveness of its educational system.

(New York Times)

Poor children in the United States are poorer than the children in most other Western industrialized nations, as young Americans suffer the brunt of several trends toward greater economic inequality, a new study shows.

(State University)

Simple comparisons between children in poor families and children in non-poor families using national datasets indicate that poor children are more likely to do worse on indices of school achievement than non-poor children are. Poor children are twice as likely as non-poor children to have repeated a grade, to have been expelled or suspended from school, or to have dropped out of high school. They are also 1.4 times as likely to be identified as having a learning disability in elementary or high school than their non-poor counterparts.

Mr.Negroponte, why are you only concerned in educating third world children with providing FREE lap tops vs children in your own country, who are equally poor, but are required to pay for theirs?

[tfehrle]

I have to agree with the people who say that we need to help our children in the U.S. As for the person who said to stop whinning I have to guess her child has a computer. Because my child goes to a school of about 1700 and the teachers require that their homework is done on a computer. Yes, they have access to computers at the school, but there are only so many.

[smassey66]

My name is Sabrina Massey, from West Palm Beach, Florida and I am a black unemployed female, mother of two, and I want to comment regarding Mr.Negroponte story. I was torn with emotion, in a sense that, this man, decided to provide his laptop computers to children in other countries, which is a charitable and notable cause, but I also felt a sense of betrayal, because my children, need a laptop to access the assignments online from their school, and I cant afford to provide them with those things that they need, and no one ever really considers helping low-income families within their OWN country. I truly believe that charity begins a home, maybe if these corporations began to invest in their own communities, instead of trying to appear to be 3rd World Heroes, it would enhance the quality of this country. Am I the only one that sees something wrong with this picture? Please contact me at [e-mail]

[videofilm1]

What is wrong with this? What happened to helping to educate american children who''s parents can''t afford to buy them a computer. Why would I go out and pay double for one of these computers in order to help someone in another country? Having spent over 20 yrs in the staffing industry and knowing we do not have many americans who could not afford to get a degree or get a higher education in order to fill positions that we give to people from other countries. These jobs go to people we have paid to educate. Why not help our own. After watching the story on 60 minutes last evening it made my stomach turn to think of people like Mr. Negroponte more interested in helping other countries more than his own. America made him, now it is time for him to give back to america. Stop giving America away. Lets get America educated first then worry about other countries. These other countries are the ones trying to find ways to kill americans daily. Even Brad Pitt is helping his own even though he and Angelina made adopting children from other countries ihe new it thing. "Adopt American","Feed Americans", "Educate American". CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME NOT ABROAD.

[eddievv]

What I would like to know is: Where is the guarantee that these laptops will actually end up in the hands of the children after we make our purchase? Where''s the accountability? Where''s the follow up? Where''s the proof? Call me a cynic, but I would want to know that the laptops end up where they are supposed to. Not in the hands of some anti-American extremists!

[smiglass]

For all those people who want these computers for children in our country, buy one and give one. How can anyone look into the face of any child and deny them what they need? Our children have ready access to television and radio and other sources of information, far exceeding what any of "third world" child can obtain. What has happened to us that we are so intimidated by the world? You can buy one and give one for far less than you can buy one of the retail laptops, so why not do it and help our children and others around the world?

Anthony

[ollerom-2009]

I just do not understand why people like Negroponte who have so much at their disposal can''t focus on helping our poor people at home. Maybe the news media could help with some of their reports and show some of the impoverished people at home. Do you really think we have no poor people at home. I am getting fed up with giving everything abroad to other nations.
I have yet to hear about any foreign nations coming to help us when we are in need. I think that the idea of giving a computer away just so you can get one for your child stinks. What if the person buying the computer needed two because they had a large family.
I will never understand people who are willing to take care of someone else and never their own. I guess 15 minutes of fame works as long as it is something done for a poor nation. I think Negroponte and other involved people should be ashamed. If you need PR recognition , fix home first. That goes for the news media as well.

[frustrated46]

THESE ARE YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK. DO YOU REALIZE THAT M.I.T. RECEIVES FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS TO MAKE THESE COMPUTERS? THEY CANNOT PROVIDE THESE TO AMERICANS, AND NOW HAVE INCREASED THE PRICE TO $299 FROM $100 IN THEIR BUY A LAPTOP FOR A CHILD IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY AND GET ONE FOR YOUR CHILD. THEY SHOULD LOSE THEIR TAX EXEMPT STATUS OVER THIS PROFIT MAKING FOR NEGROPONTE. THEY WOULD NOT EVEN PROVIDE THESE TO OUR MILITARY MEMBERS WHILE THEY ARE DEPLOYED DEFENDING FREEDOM.

[arashi1983]

I really think we must think globally. We have much to learn from other cultures; if we find a way to unite ourselves with the use of technology, I think that is more advantageous!

True that there are parts of our nation that may need these equipment. But I feel other third-world nations need them more than us. Some have never even seen a laptop in their life. If we compare these nations, we are by far advanced in technology. We need to provide opportunities.

Its like affirmative action. Its not about fairness. Its about providing the opportunity to those that does not even have a choice to begin with.

[dunhamteach]

I am a teacher in an overcrowded suburban school with a student body of approx.1500 students, (growing to 1900 in 2008), in a 900 student-capacity building. We do not have enough computers for every child in our school, however we do have enough for students to use in our media center, if we can get a time to go there, as we compete with so many students on a sign-up schedule. My classroom computer is so antiquated that I have to do my work on a media computer if I can get to one during planning time.
I request that you and Intel and all the amazing technological industries get together to work your magic powers to help my Union County school in NC. We stretch our fundraisers to provide food and clothing plus toys, etc. to so many of our area families and then try to add to our personal school needs.
I do not want to say negative things about the USA trying to help these foreign countries and people, but can''t you see the urgency to help the needy here also?
Being a teacher of so many unfortunate children here, I think it would be so kind of you to respond to me with an answer, possibly a solution.
Thanks, Mrs. Dunham

[liaisonsus]

Yes, charity starts at home.
How about all the Native American children who have been moved to the most desolate, undesirable and remote parts of this country of USA? And all the other children in poor rural America?
But didn''t Nicolas say: All children in the World?

[michellem99-2009]

Gramma,When i was in school teacher wanted me to share my textbook.I could not as I had to hold it close to try and read it. Yer can''t share today. I wanted to share my meal with my friend and had I done so they call the cops.I bought the bloody meal. I don''t share computer as it is set up for my visiual needs. I have never used a laptop as with C/P I COULD NEVER AFFORD A WELL BULIT ONE i FALL ALOT.

[michellem99-2009]

I am 53. I am poorly scooled. I went to sp ed. Yer know what I HEARD every day at school. Teachers said we can''t teach yer as ye the only legally blind and multi handicsppedpupil in the schools.I end up in tears as in my day there was no help . Foster mums did not care . I sat in classes because it be law. I am tired of the names some posters call me.YER want to give a well built laptop to a overseas child..I SAY HERE. adult too.

[grammawhamma]

I have to agree with the people who say that we need to help our children in the U.S. As for the person who said to stop whinning I have to guess her child has a computer. Because my child goes to a school of about 1700 and the teachers require that their homework is done on a computer. Yes, they have access to computers at the school, but there are only so many.


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Posted by tfehrle at 12:12 AM : Dec 03, 2007

I noticed you repeated your post numerous times.... you obviously have access to a computer. Why can''t your child use the comp you are now using for his/her homework? All of you posters who want to buy this computer for your kids...if there already is a computer in the home...do your kids really need their very own computer? What happened to sharing?

[michellem99-2009]

Charity begins here in America before it is given over seas. I am not selfish far from it. There are people in this nation that need them. Seniors,handicapped,the poor. Right here. Yet yer rather give over seas. They will take any thing America graciously holds her paw out to them if they can use the aid or not. They will take it. I think teaching them skills they can use in their nation IS more inportant.

[aljan2-2009]

Dear 60 minuties,
after watching rebroardcast of one lap top per child, I was disturb that as our corp world is willing to sell this high tech computer knowledge to thrid world country''s in the name of children!!! Why not our milltary, soldier''s could use this type of technology in the field, or at home on a limited income, to communication with there love one''s, because if stolen it could deactivated. In a country that there is more TV''S in homes than there is computers is a shame we look to futher education throughout our world than at home, and most 3rd world country''s take what given to them and take all thats good and fine a way to use it against us (USA), exsample would be a country like Nigeria and all it''s fraud!!!! Not that I''m against the world people, but let us think of home first.aljan2

[aljan2-2009]

Dear 60 minuties,
after watching rebroardcast of one lap top per child, I was disturb that as our corp world is willing to sell this high tech computer knowledge to thrid world country''s in the name of children!!! Why not our milltary, soldier''s could use this type of technology in the field, or at home on a limited income, to communication with there love one''s, because if stolen it could deactivated. In a country that there is more TV''S in homes than there is computers is a shame we look to futher education throughout our world than at home, and most 3rd world country''s take what given to them and take all thats good and fine a way to use it against us (USA), exsample would be a country like Nigeria and all it''s fraud!!!! Not that I''m against the world people, but let us think of home first.aljan2

[aljan2-2009]

Dear 60 minuties,
after watching rebroardcast of one lap top per child, I was disturb that as our corp world is willing to sell this high tech computer knowledge to thrid world country''s in the name of children!!! Why not our milltary, soldier''s could use this type of technology in the field, or at home on a limited income, to communication with there love one''s, because if stolen it could deactivated. In a country that there is more TV''S in homes than there is computers is a shame we look to futher education throughout our world than at home, and most 3rd world country''s take what given to them and take all thats good and fine a way to use it against us (USA), exsample would be a country like Nigeria and all it''s fraud!!!! Not that I''m against the world people, but let us think of home first.aljan2

[tfehrle]

I have to agree with the people who say that we need to help our children in the U.S. As for the person who said to stop whinning I have to guess her child has a computer. Because my child goes to a school of about 1700 and the teachers require that their homework is done on a computer. Yes, they have access to computers at the school, but there are only so many.

[trekkiemom]

I''m going to purchase a laptop for my handicapped daughter who is twenty. I''m very excited to be part of this donation during the holidays, I just wish that I could request that the computer be donated to a school in Africa that our church helped start. I read a lot of the other e-mails and I understand that people would prefer to "start at home" with donations, but groups and organizations CAN raise the two hundred dollars to help our children. The great United States has so many resources. I would love to help with an organization that would see that every disabled child (and disabled adult who has the mind of a child) be supplied with this computer. That''s my personal goal for a start here, but I pray that every needy child all over the world will have a computer. What a wonderful concept!