In one of the most advanced high tech economies, the US, schools have been resorting to low tech to be able to reach certain parts of their audience who are unable to fund a new Laptop, Chromebook or Tablet. Reported in the NY Times “educators and local television stations have teamed up to help teachers make their broadcast debuts and engage children who are stuck in the doldrums of distance learning”. This attempt to bridge the divide between the haves and have-nots has been quite successful given the scale of those with no possibility to follow online classes. According to study by Common Sense Media, in 2018 15 – 16 million students “didn’t have an adequate device or reliable internet connection at home”. While all of these attempts are amateurish and with defects they are a fundamental part of attempts by concerned teachers to do their bit to help children not miss out on furthering their education despite not having a digital device. This approach should be applauded, but we must also question why the divide has not been tackled at a government level. Education should be each country´s priority along with health.
