Jordan’s Power Struggle
Classroom instruction at Jordan has been hindered by a shortage of Chromebook chargers, vital instruments in the era of mostly online assignments. To assist with the crisis, the PTSA as donated 200 chargers which are being distributed to students with ESL and EOC classes: English 2, Math 1, Math 3 and biology.
According to Ms. Montgomery, our media coordinator and tech specialist, the shortage stemmed from a budget deficit, as the district could not afford to buy new chargers to make up for those lost last year or to give to new students, or any other technology related items such as new laptops for teachers or students.
Most of the students affected by the shortage are new students or students who failed to return a charger last year. “Students who turned in chargers (and a Chromebook) were given the same charger (and Chromebook) that they had last year,” said Montgomery. Students who failed to return a charger last year will not be provided one this year.
The power struggle hits hard in places like the eLearning classroom where all students need computers at all times. Like many classes, not every student has a charger.
“Sometimes I do nothing at school and can’t do homework because I can’t charge up my computer,” said Khalaya Rhodes, a sophomore. Rhodes says she returned her charger last year but was told there weren’t enough to give out this fall.
“In some of my classes my grades are going down because I can’t do my homework,” she added while pointing out that some teachers are good about giving paper copies to students whose computers are dead.
“I try to minimize pure computer work as much as I can, [and] try to do more stuff on paper to get around this,” said science teacher Mr. Dail. “And then if I’m doing a computer assignment that they have to have a computer for I try to group students up so students who don’t have access to a charger can definitely have someone with a working computer.”
Jaxon Martinez, a freshman who did not receive a charger this year, has been relying on borrowing (chargers) from teachers and other students to get by. “Regarding most of my assignments being on my computer it definitely gets in the way of completing my assignments,” said Martinez.
“Yesterday my computer was completely dead and I tried using [my mom’s charger] but that doesn’t really charge it… so I had to finish my math work in my ELA class,” said freshman Raquel May, another chargerless student.
More accountability is being placed on students receiving new chargers, “We have barcoded the chargers and students will be accountable for the charger checked out to them since now we will be able to keep track of them” said Montgomery.
However, due to the limited chargers, many students not in EOC classes this semester will still lack chargers. Many EOC classes are freshman level classes, and per Montgomery, freshmen have been disproportionately affected by the shortage. Not all freshmen will have these classes, and older students who lack chargers will still need to find other ways to either acquire a charger by themselves or get by without one.
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