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Re:Why Brit Ruby 2013 was cancelled and why this is not ok by themgt on Sunday November 18, 2012 @05:07PM (#4801864)
"If I was a poor black kid I’d use the free technology available to help me study. I’d become expert at Google Scholar. I’d visit study sites like SparkNotes and CliffsNotes to help me understand books. I’d watch relevant teachings on Academic Earth, TED and the Khan Academy. (I say relevant because some of these lectures may not be related to my work or too advanced for my age. But there are plenty of videos on these sites that are suitable to my studies and would help me stand out.) I would also, when possible, get my books for free at Project Gutenberg and learn how to do research at the CIA World Factbook and Wikipedia to help me with my studies."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/quickerbettertech/2011/12/12/if-...

Re:Why Brit Ruby 2013 was cancelled and why this is not ok by rprasad on Sunday November 18, 2012 @06:38PM (#4802122)
The author of the linked Forbes commentary touches but fails to understand that most poor black kids in urban areas do not have convenient or easy access to a computer. If they're lucky, they'll have access to a working computer at their school. If they're really lucky, they may even live close enough to the public library to use those computers.

The author fails to grasp that a kid from Oakland, Cleveland, or South LA, has never heard of TED, or Academic Earth, or Khan Academy. He has no idea that there are free resources available online, and no reason to expect such.

But what can you expect? The Forbes article is written by a very wealthy, middle-aged, white man who had both parents and lived in a wealthy neighborhood.

Re:Why Brit Ruby 2013 was cancelled and why this is not ok by themgt on Monday November 19, 2012 @12:53PM (#4805481)
/sarcasm