The
Junior and Senior Electronics Tech shop students, under the leadership
and technical guidance of Mr. Stan Jarosz, have performed a community
service installation of a computer learning laboratory for Beth
El Temple Religious School in West Hartford, Connecticut. The project
began when Ruth Tulin Cion contacted Jarosz about rebuilding donated
computers for her religious school classes. Additionally, the temple
school had an old laser color printer (HP model-----) Nothing would
work for her, so the huge machine, in desperate need of repair,
was brought to E. C. Goodwin for repair. Students searched for parts
on the Internet. When a dilapidated similar model was located, E.C.
began working to switch and to fix various components. After about
a month, with the students working with spare parts and manuals,
the printer was performing beautifully.
The
next step was to install it in the Temple’s classroom. The
students had completed work at area churches, but never at a temple.
From English and History classes, many students had knowledge of
the Holocaust, the Middle East conflicts, and Jewish sources of
the Bible. However, not even one student had ever been in a temple.
What began as a technical project became an exercise in multidisciplinary,
multicultural sensitivity.
Rabbi
Howard Rosenbaum, director of the Beth El Religious School was thrilled
to have Goodwin students help rebuild the old computers, network
the printer, and even tour the chapel. The students had many questions,
and they were intrigued by the answers. They even learned a bit
about dietary laws, as only Kosher foods could be snacked upon at
the school. Rabbi and Cion obliged with appropriate yummies.
The
project was completed soon after the end of the 1st trimester. A
letter of gratitude was sent by the congregation to the school.
The students noted that they would return, when possible, if there
were any issues. What began as a technical learning exercise established
bonds across ethnicities and towns. The learning at Beth El School
is much more vibrant and creative thanks to the wonderful students
of E. C. Goodwin.
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