In the photo, the two girls are sitting on the sidewalk of Taco Bell in front of computers and pencils and paper in their laps. Two support bell employees can be seen in front of them, one coming down to meet them at eye level.
“California is the technology capital of the world, it’s a shame,” he told CNN. “Salinas Valley is 45 minutes from Silicon Valley and here we have such a large part that has been going on for years, but now it has only expanded because of this epidemic.”
Alejandro said he did not know who the students in the photo were and could not confirm why they were led to go to Taco Bell, but said the photo speaks to the bigger picture of reality that many students and families are facing.
“We know there are thousands of other children in a similar situation. In Salinas, there are many homes and many parents who don’t even know how to use a computer or how hotspots work.”
Richard Gabby, public relations officer for the Salinas City Elementary School District (SCESD), told CNN that the Salinas City Elementary School District identified the students immediately after seeing the photo circulate.
Amy Ish, president of the Salinas City Elementary School District, said in a statement that the digital split is very real and the delay in acquiring the necessary technology is a statewide concern. “We are grateful that the state is prioritizing technology and will look forward to receiving these hotspots in our district.”
For privacy and security issues, the district will not identify students or their parents.
According to Jibin, the district gave the family a hotspot so that students could access classroom instructions from their home. The district is in full-distance study mode and said they have distributed 8,245 Chromebooks, 1,500 hotspots and are waiting for 2,500 additional hotspots.
“Technol” G is so complex and we can’t see it as a luxury, it’s a necessity of life, it should be seen as a utility like water, electricity and gas, “Alejo said.
In a statement, a Taco Bell Corp. spokesman told CNN that “the photo of two young women outside Salinas, CA Taco Bell is a stark reminder of the fundamental inequalities facing our communities.”
“We and our franchisees have always been passionate about supporting youth education, and the owner of this restaurant is looking for additional ways to support these students and the wider community,” Taco Bell said in an email statement. .
Although digital segmentation is a problem across the country, in California, 25% (1,529,000) of K-12 students in the state do not have adequate connectivity and 17% (1,063,000) do not have adequate devices for distance learning, according to research by General Sense Media and Boston Consulting Group.
The state of California has the second highest number of students without adequate admission after Texas.
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