Chapter 3

The text states that one of the main problems with urban schools is that they are usually older than some of the smaller more rural schools and therefore the wiring is old. With old wiring in a school it makes it that much harder to install all the necessary equipment in the school for the teachers and students to use. Another problem mentioned in Chapter 3 is that there are so many schools in urban areas that it takes too long for electricians to add the lines in the school. Also the problems monetarily in urban areas are huge (Gallager, 2001).

There are less problems in rural areas. What I found interesting is that Gallager (2001) did not mention whether she was referring to "smaller town" rural or "farm land" rural. There is a difference. I do not consider Stafford to an extremely large town however we are 'rural' when comparing it to D.C. We are not all farmers also. So what is she talking about when she refers to "rural?"

The school I work in does not really have the same challenges as an urban school. We are within a city but our school is fairly new so the wiring is fine and funds are available to the schools. The schools may not receive all the funds they want for technology but we at least have a lab with up and running computers and COWs (computers on wheels or carts). So we do not face as many challenges in our school. Stafford County is a large district and we do have some older schools however I believe that the administration for most of the schools would fight for equality of computer technology.

Gallager, E. M., (2001). Technology for urban schools: Gaps and Challenges. San Francisco:
Jossey-Bass.