Hey it works!
THis week we are trying out the use of internal TV system to broadcast lectures and lessons originating from the Oral Arts room. (If you are unaware of our school this is a small auditorium that holds about 120 people.) The plan is to give the students a background in what goes into the investigation of crimes through the use of science.
So far so good!
The feed back from the classrooms has been positive. They are happy to at least have a view of the proceedings and be able to contribute (albeit via the phone). For once the technology is being used for a positive effecthere at the school.
We also need to send a big thank you to the National Library of Medicine for helping to arrange for our keynote speaker, Mr. Kirk Bloodworth. His compelling story about going to jail for a murder/rape he didn't committ and sitting on death row for nearly 20 years before finally being cleared is going to play strongly here on Wednesday. If you aren't familiar with his story he is the first person to ever be exonerated of a crime through the means of DNA. His story can be read in the book by Tim Junkins: Bloodsworth: The True Story of One Man's Triumph over Injustice
Hopefully the rest of the week goes as well as the first day.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
School THeft
Another theft on campus this past weekend. THis time it was from my office in an area where there are only three keys to access the room. Hmmm.
It's bad enough that we are trying to run a technology program on a shoestring budget, but when the people we are trying to help most keep cutting those shoestrings it makes it even harder to turn out qualified and motivated scholars.
The chance to actually catch someone walking off with the schools equipment is basically nil. The criminal would have to literally walk up to a person and tell them that they are in the process of ripping off the school to be able to catch someone. This is with a camera system in place to catch would be individuals.
The problem we have is that the cameras are working but they have no way to record what they see. We had actually approved funding to replace the old and broken VCR's a few years ago but someone in the administration decided that the expense wasn't worth it. So the savings of a couple of thousand dollars a few years ago has now cost the school close to $50,000 in lost technology since the summer of 2009!
It is so bad now we are recommending that the teachers not leave any personal equipment in their classrooms, even locked in closets, due to the fact the safety of these items is in question. School owned equipment has been recommneded to be kept in the school vault. In other words, if it isn't nailed down get it out of your classroom or office because if you don't there is a strong chance it wont be there the next day.
Sad times and I'm worried they are only going to get worse.
It's bad enough that we are trying to run a technology program on a shoestring budget, but when the people we are trying to help most keep cutting those shoestrings it makes it even harder to turn out qualified and motivated scholars.
The chance to actually catch someone walking off with the schools equipment is basically nil. The criminal would have to literally walk up to a person and tell them that they are in the process of ripping off the school to be able to catch someone. This is with a camera system in place to catch would be individuals.
The problem we have is that the cameras are working but they have no way to record what they see. We had actually approved funding to replace the old and broken VCR's a few years ago but someone in the administration decided that the expense wasn't worth it. So the savings of a couple of thousand dollars a few years ago has now cost the school close to $50,000 in lost technology since the summer of 2009!
It is so bad now we are recommending that the teachers not leave any personal equipment in their classrooms, even locked in closets, due to the fact the safety of these items is in question. School owned equipment has been recommneded to be kept in the school vault. In other words, if it isn't nailed down get it out of your classroom or office because if you don't there is a strong chance it wont be there the next day.
Sad times and I'm worried they are only going to get worse.
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