The key with computers is most any decent paying job (aside from some trades) these days requires using a computer.
Poor kids are less likely to have a computer in the home, so having computers in the schools, and classes on how to use them, are crucial for making sure those kids get those skills they'll need to succeed in college and the workforce.
As for private school, I don't think that's necessary. Parents just need to be involved in their kids education, stress the importance of doing well in school and do everything they can to keep their kids on that track. If a kid can graduate high school with a good GPA and test scores, then playing field gets a lot less uneven as they'll get into a lot of schools, be competitive for scholarships etc.
The problem is all the obstacles that make it nearly impossible for a lot of kids from impoverished areas (both inner city and rural areas) to finish high school, much less to do so with good grades and test scores. Find ways to alleviate all those concentrated disadvantage problems, and we'd see academic achievement go way up even if no changes are made to the school system. In a perfect world you do that and fix the school system.
Poor kids are less likely to have a computer in the home, so having computers in the schools, and classes on how to use them, are crucial for making sure those kids get those skills they'll need to succeed in college and the workforce.
As for private school, I don't think that's necessary. Parents just need to be involved in their kids education, stress the importance of doing well in school and do everything they can to keep their kids on that track. If a kid can graduate high school with a good GPA and test scores, then playing field gets a lot less uneven as they'll get into a lot of schools, be competitive for scholarships etc.
The problem is all the obstacles that make it nearly impossible for a lot of kids from impoverished areas (both inner city and rural areas) to finish high school, much less to do so with good grades and test scores. Find ways to alleviate all those concentrated disadvantage problems, and we'd see academic achievement go way up even if no changes are made to the school system. In a perfect world you do that and fix the school system.