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Why Do Some Poor Kids Thrive?

theatlantic.com

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Re: Why Do Some Poor Kids Thrive?

#151

Post by fit2rule »

asimuvPR wrote: post #100
whiskers wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be happy to help you out here - I run a Pi based business and we could donate some equipment. My e-mail is in my profile.

You are too kind! Will email you ASAP. :)

Hi! I also do what you're doing - my latest effort involves getting old computers in the hands of the refugee's here in Europe, and getting them set up to backup their cell phones, which are absolutely vital to their survival (paperworks, docs, dictionaries, maps, etc.) and yet utterly non-administered.

I've also poked my head in on a couple of the rPi/Minecraft hacking sessions that teach kids computer programming, and will try to promote this among my small and mostly crew.

Anyway, just wanted to say its great that you mentioned what you're up to, because we really need to be doing more of this, in my opinion.

Re: Why Do Some Poor Kids Thrive?

#152

Post by asimuvPR »

fit2rule wrote: post #151
asimuvPR wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are too kind! Will email you ASAP. :)

Hi! I also do what you're doing - my latest effort involves getting old computers in the hands of the refugee's here in Europe, and getting them set up to backup their cell phones, which are absolutely vital to their survival (paperworks, docs, dictionaries, maps, etc.) and yet utterly non-administered. I've also poked my head in on a couple of the rPi/Minecraft hacking sessions that teach kids computer programming,…

That's awesome!

How do you source the computers? I'd love to recycle machines if possible too.

Re: Why Do Some Poor Kids Thrive?

#153

Post by ivm »

asimuvPR wrote: post #56
rdtsc wrote: post #5

I grew up poor. Not Africa poor, but ex Soviet Union falling apart poor. One thing that made a huge difference was parents who sacrificed their career to make sure they were home with me after school. They encouraged education. Mom never finished more than 7 grades of school, but she saved money for and for the 8th of March, equivalent to mothers day (oh the irony) got me cheapest ZX Spectrum clone we could find. It…

I don't really like to talk about it to avoid looking like a showoff, but I run a project to help those who want to learn computers and programming. Currently am preparing some space that was made available and getting some funds for raspberry pis. I share a similar story like you (poor, parents got me a c64 somehow) and want to pay it forward. If anybody is interested in learning more or provide feedback about how I…

I live in Chile where social mobility is weak, education is incredibly expensive and income inequality is high.

But even the poorest families here usually own a TV with modern interfaces, so Pi for kids could work like magic. Thank you for the idea!

Re: Why Do Some Poor Kids Thrive?

#154

Post by fit2rule »

asimuvPR wrote: post #152
fit2rule wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi! I also do what you're doing - my latest effort involves getting old computers in the hands of the refugee's here in Europe, and getting them set up to backup their cell phones, which are absolutely vital to their survival (paperworks, docs, dictionaries, maps, etc.) and yet utterly non-administered. I've also poked my head in on a couple of the rPi/Minecraft hacking sessions that teach kids computer programming,…

That's awesome! How do you source the computers? I'd love to recycle machines if possible too.

Dumpster diving, donations from willing consumers doing their own upgrades, etc.

Re: Why Do Some Poor Kids Thrive?

#155

Post by asimuvPR »

fit2rule wrote: post #154
asimuvPR wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's awesome! How do you source the computers? I'd love to recycle machines if possible too.

Dumpster diving, donations from willing consumers doing their own upgrades, etc.

Hey, why don't we get in touch through email and brainstorm about how to get the word out for both of us? My email is in my profile. :)

Re: Why Do Some Poor Kids Thrive?

#156

Post by asimuvPR »

ivm wrote: post #153
asimuvPR wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't really like to talk about it to avoid looking like a showoff, but I run a project to help those who want to learn computers and programming. Currently am preparing some space that was made available and getting some funds for raspberry pis. I share a similar story like you (poor, parents got me a c64 somehow) and want to pay it forward. If anybody is interested in learning more or provide feedback about how I…

I live in Chile where social mobility is weak, education is incredibly expensive and income inequality is high. But even the poorest families here usually own a TV with modern interfaces, so Pi for kids could work like magic. Thank you for the idea!

I'm also Latin American. Let's talk more about how you could get something going! Please email me. :)

Re: Why Do Some Poor Kids Thrive?

#157

Post by nickpsecurity »

asimuvPR wrote: post #144
nickpsecurity wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Im curious about what exactly you do that can run all on Pi's plus any writeups you have on challenges and successes going all in. I often see people speculate about doing it but rarely actually do it.

I started a couple of years ago teaching people in my social circle about programming. Then doing hands on things with microcontroller boards. I moved to the RPi and have been slowly forming a group of want to be learners (harder than it sounds). Challenges are purely economic. I have a full time job and work long hours. Plus I do side work to pay for everything related to ASIMUV (it's not a startup). Teaching comes…

Oh OK. So, not an ordinary business needing email, file servers, web, etc. Just needs hackabld computers to teach folks to hack on computers. That makes more sense. :)

Good luck to you. Btw, just to know Im reading it right, what does the ESL mean here?

Re: Why Do Some Poor Kids Thrive?

#158

Post by hackuser »

WalterBright wrote: post #137
hackuser wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Walter - I've given you some of that karma by upvoting you many times. It seems like you are the one relying on a 'usual narrative', that you just have to work hard. How do you square that with the data, the outcomes that wealthy kids are so much more successful? How about that they get into college at such higher rates at age 18? Why would poor kids be any lazier than wealthy ones? > And American today has more oppo…

> that you just have to work hard. I've tried to make it very clear in this thread that it is not at all about "just working hard". It's about working smart , i.e. making choices. To know the truth about a country, check if there are walls around a country to keep people in, or walls to keep people out.

> it is not at all about "just working hard". It's about working smart

That doesn't change my point.

> To know the truth about a country, check if there are walls around a country to keep people in, or walls to keep people out.

A very broad brush on an irrelevant issue (relative economic opportunity between nations) to the problem at hand.

Re: Why Do Some Poor Kids Thrive?

#159

Post by hackuser »

stretchwithme wrote: post #148
hackuser wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's an interesting and often-repeated theory, but the data is overwhelming: People born in poor environments do much worse than those born in wealthier environments. The massive difference in resources seems like a place to start. Compare the percentage of kids who get into college from poor urban public schools, where many kids aren't even functionally literate and classes lack books, and wealthy suburban public sc…

I would say that those born into poor cultures do poorly. Those cultures that are no longer poor were more conducive to escaping poverty. The evidence is compelling in places that dropped government control of everything and millions of people have moved out of poverty in just a generation or two. China is a good example. Everybody started out poor but they still had an ethic or working hard, saving for the future an…

> Its not the poor neighborhood. Its the poor ideas in people's heads. Change that and the neighborhood changes too.

An interesting notion, but is there any data that backs it up?

Re: Why Do Some Poor Kids Thrive?

#160

Post by stretchwithme »

hackuser wrote: post #159
stretchwithme wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would say that those born into poor cultures do poorly. Those cultures that are no longer poor were more conducive to escaping poverty. The evidence is compelling in places that dropped government control of everything and millions of people have moved out of poverty in just a generation or two. China is a good example. Everybody started out poor but they still had an ethic or working hard, saving for the future an…

> Its not the poor neighborhood. Its the poor ideas in people's heads. Change that and the neighborhood changes too. An interesting notion, but is there any data that backs it up?

You need proof that better ideas produce better results?
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