Making a difference in the schools

Schools represent a challenge for the software industry. Although diverting corporate resources to schools may appear to be folly in the short run, in the long run it is a strategy for survival. The author calls on programmers and their organizations to devote their time and services to schools at the primary and secondary levels. He describes some efforts already underway, and proposes a two-part plan for companies to follow. The first part is to lend some assistance in the computerization of the schools. The second part is to begin the introduction of salaried knowledge workers (their time contributed by the businesses that employ them) into the schools as individual tutors, teaching assistants, and aides.<>