Amazon, Microsoft, Google Remind Public of Their K-12 CS Education Philanthropy 34
theodp writes: After issuing mea culpas over diversity and compensation equity issues, tech companies began to promote their K-12 CS education philanthropy initiatives as corrective measures as they sought to deflect criticism and defeat shareholder calls for greater transparency into hiring and compensation practices. In 2016, for instance, Amazon argued it was already working with tech-backed nonprofits such as Code.org, the Anita Borg Institute, and Girls Who Code to increase women's and minorities' involvement in tech as it sought the SEC's permission to block a shareholder vote on a proposal on gender pay equality. As such, it wasn't terribly surprising to see the nation's tech giants again remind the public of their K-12 CS philanthropy efforts as they recently announced quarterly earnings.
In the Addressing Racial Injustice and Inequity section of its most recent 10-K Annual Report SEC filing, Microsoft boasted, "We also expanded our Technology Education and Learning Support ("TEALS") program to reach nearly 550 high schools across 21 racial equity expansion regions with the support of nearly 1,500 volunteers, 12% of whom identify as Black or African American."
An Amazon press release claimed the company is inspiring Girl Scouts to explore the future of STEM by awarding girls aged 7-and-up a co-branded Girl Scouts and Amazon patch for attending in-person or virtual Amazon warehouse tours. "As humanity looks to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) for new ideas and discoveries," Amazon explained, "it is more important than ever to harness the unique insights, skills, and potential of girls. [..] That's why Amazon partnered with Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) to host exclusive tours [of Amazon fulfillment centers] for troops around the nation to showcase the importance and diversity of careers in STEM."
Most recently, a press release celebrated the move of Google's Code Next high school program into a lab located in the newly-rehabbed Michigan Central Station, which has thus far enrolled approximately 100 students. "Google has called Michigan home for over 15 years with offices in Detroit and Ann Arbor. We're dedicated to investing in the city and providing its students with the resources and inspiration they need to excel," said Shanika Hope, Director, Google Education and Social Impact. "We're excited to bring our Code Next program to Michigan Central, empowering Detroit's youth with computer science education to help them reach their full potential in the classroom and beyond."
In the Addressing Racial Injustice and Inequity section of its most recent 10-K Annual Report SEC filing, Microsoft boasted, "We also expanded our Technology Education and Learning Support ("TEALS") program to reach nearly 550 high schools across 21 racial equity expansion regions with the support of nearly 1,500 volunteers, 12% of whom identify as Black or African American."
An Amazon press release claimed the company is inspiring Girl Scouts to explore the future of STEM by awarding girls aged 7-and-up a co-branded Girl Scouts and Amazon patch for attending in-person or virtual Amazon warehouse tours. "As humanity looks to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) for new ideas and discoveries," Amazon explained, "it is more important than ever to harness the unique insights, skills, and potential of girls. [..] That's why Amazon partnered with Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) to host exclusive tours [of Amazon fulfillment centers] for troops around the nation to showcase the importance and diversity of careers in STEM."
Most recently, a press release celebrated the move of Google's Code Next high school program into a lab located in the newly-rehabbed Michigan Central Station, which has thus far enrolled approximately 100 students. "Google has called Michigan home for over 15 years with offices in Detroit and Ann Arbor. We're dedicated to investing in the city and providing its students with the resources and inspiration they need to excel," said Shanika Hope, Director, Google Education and Social Impact. "We're excited to bring our Code Next program to Michigan Central, empowering Detroit's youth with computer science education to help them reach their full potential in the classroom and beyond."
Children of the Cron (Score:4)
Re:Children of the Cron (Score:4, Funny)
Short girls or tall girls, it's all good, because Amazon has shelves at all heights.
Slap them hard. (Score:5, Insightful)
As far as I've been able to see, any effort on the part of a tech company to do "education philanthropy" ends up being a taciturn indoctrination into whatever it is the company is currently obsessing over, or at the very least, indoctrination into their particular version of technology. I'd love to see someone in education call them out for it, but of course free computers and software is seen as a positive. Who cares if it shoves kids into little shoeboxes of technology and gives them no grip whatsoever on the rest of the technological universe.
The only way I wouldn't see it as indoctrination at this point is if these companies simply handed resources, note, I did not say, "Fire tablets" or "Chrombebooks" or "Surfaces" or any other specific technology already implemented, I said resources, as in money, funding for books/documentation chosen by educators with informed input by, but no control from, business leaders in technology sectors, or building out needed computer infrastructure, with no required, "MUST USE OUR BRAND FOR ALL THINGS" stipulations. I'm sorry, business world, I've rode roughshod over humanity for long enough we have a good reason to no longer trust you.
Re: (Score:3)
Back in very early 80s, the elementary school where my dad taught got an Apple II, as a gift from Apple, which was put in the library, which then put it in a closet, never to be used. There was no support from Apple, no educational applications provided, no resources, etc. It was like being given a plumbus (Rick & Morty). Tax writeoff for Apple, mysterious box for the school.
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I'm sorry to hear that your school had what amounted to an expensive paperweight.
My elementary school received an Apple IIe for every classroom plus a computer lab full of them. By the time I was in Jr. High ("Middle School") there was a IIgs and/or Mac SE in every room. They received lots of use. Teachers were given a huge discount on the hardware, so my parents (HS teachers) bought one for our home. It was a great introduction to computing.
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The only way I wouldn't see it as indoctrination at this point is if these companies simply handed resources, note, I did not say, "Fire tablets" or "Chrombebooks" or "Surfaces" or any other specific technology already implemented, I said resources, as in money, funding for books/documentation chosen by educators..
Resources chosen by educators?
How ironic the answer every educator would give you if you asked them what resource they need more of, is more fucking educators.
If the philanthropists wanted to actually put their money where their tax write-off is, they’d start paying for people’s education to become teachers. 100% all the way. Not that “full ride” scholarship bullshit riddled with fine print and student debt.
They want more teachers? Fucking pay for it. They sure as hell aren
Re: (Score:2)
The only way I wouldn't see it as indoctrination at this point is if these companies simply handed resources, note, I did not say, "Fire tablets" or "Chrombebooks" or "Surfaces" or any other specific technology already implemented, I said resources, as in money, funding for books/documentation chosen by educators..
Resources chosen by educators?
How ironic the answer every educator would give you if you asked them what resource they need more of, is more fucking educators.
If the philanthropists wanted to actually put their money where their tax write-off is, they’d start paying for people’s education to become teachers. 100% all the way. Not that “full ride” scholarship bullshit riddled with fine print and student debt.
They want more teachers? Fucking pay for it. They sure as hell aren’t doing much to address the tech addiction that turns students into junkies, making the teaching experience oh so rewardingly fucked.
Well, yeah. The tech companies are all *FOR* more electronics in classrooms. This is why I said "resources." Money would be the primary one, and it could be redirected into hiring more educators. Having caveats on the money, like, "Must be spent at the Microsoft store" would be the opposite of providing resources.
Granted, I doubt this world would allow that to happen, but it's a nice day-dream.
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The metric is more specifically how far did a student get in a year (adjusted for relevant factors like SES) and who was responsible for that. Some tech companies or their foundation arms (B&MG) do support this type of thing, but explaining it is hard when
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I'm not sure which educators you have in your circle. The educators I know want more effective educators. This is how money is spent well. Not on higher pay. Not on hiring everyone with a pulse. Not on cramming technology into a 1st grade classroom.
How many humans crossed a border into America in the last 5 years?
How many of them were 1st graders?
How many of them, need a basic education to survive? How many of them need basic healthcare services to survive?
No. These are in fact NOT politically charged questions. They are simple math questions. Yes, we always need effective educators. But right now? We simply need trained educators. Badly. And nurses and doctors for the same damn reason. Healthcare based educations should be paid for 100% by s
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So - for the longer term - back to effective educators - who are often tasked with providing a basic education for survival. "Effectiv
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Yep. This is not philanthropy, this is product placement.
Philanthropy from psychopatic corporations (Score:3)
So heartwarming to know they care about inclusion and diversity, and I'm sure it's totally disinterested.
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So heartwarming to know they care about inclusion and diversity, and I'm sure it's totally disinterested.
Perhaps the truth is better stated that these companies wanted to be acknowledged for DEI without having to spend money or make changes. Sadly, much of their DEI efforts are more marketing than substantive.
Girls Who Code Folded (Score:4, Insightful)
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Can you quantify the bang-for-the-buck on a $14M annual investment? How many boys and girls 10x coders did it produce?
Toxic work environments (Score:3, Interesting)
They're beyond obtuse.
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"Ms." Bunny, I think. Definitely not "Mrs.", I'm sure.
Girls who do HVAC (Score:4, Interesting)
Why don't we see more 'Girls who weld', 'Girls who wire', 'Girls who do masonry', 'Girls who work at waste treatment plants and ride on the back of garbage trucks'? Only cushy sit on your @ss all day or C-Level jobs for girls? That's kind of something-ist, right?
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Because FAANG companies do this sort of "philanthropy" as an early recruiting method. They'll take only the best and will create a glut in the market who may not easily get jobs but it works out great for the big companies. Who is going to do that for these other jobs? Small regional brands? Who aren't having trouble getting employees or would be doing all this to make sure they have one or two jobs filled 10 years later?
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Well, rightr now it's Coding is Life! mentality out there. It's not just girls. And I do see lots of women welding, especially artist welding as opposed to industrial. Oh ya, this one is easy, top search result: https://www.womenwhoweld.org/ [womenwhoweld.org]
Also there's http://greasegirl.com/ [greasegirl.com].
Girls in masonry, lots of hits... oh wait, that's freemasonry :-)
For me though, I feel it's an issue because women used to be very prominent in computing in the past, at a time when much of computing was seen as "clerical" work. Ste
Re: Girls who do HVAC (Score:2)
*slaps wife around* *buys her gifts later* (Score:1)
*cycle repeats until she either leaves, gets killed, or kills him*
warehouse tours (Score:2)
WTF does a warehouse tour have to do with STEM?
Look girls! You could be the next roboticist to put these lowly order pickers on the street for good.
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WTF does a warehouse tour have to do with STEM?
Look girls! You could be the next roboticist to put these lowly order pickers on the street for good.
C’mon man. Don’t you see all that STEM hiding in between the cardboard packages?
In all seriousness, I couldn’t agree with you more. Worst fucking sell ever.
recipients (Score:3)
Yet they also outsource their jobs. (Score:2)
Their true colours (Score:2)
Translation: We want to spend money now (where it's advertising), not when they're working for us and a cost to be 'managed'.
Thank Them? (Score:2)
We're supposed to thank them for attempting to flood the market with McCoders and drive down salaries? Thanks but no thanks, assholes.