Apple IIe - End of an Era?
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Huntington Beach, California: Vance Carruth a third grade teacher at Agnes Smith Elementary School in Huntington Beach, California has been supporting over twenty Apple IIe systems for the past fifteen (15) years. Each desktop system is networked to a main file server that contains dozens of games and activities. Even though the technology is almost thirty (30) years old, Vance's third graders fight over the chance to get use of one of these puppies. This is because classroom sizes have changed from twenty (20) to thirty (30) students this year due to school closings (budget cuts).

How did this all happen? Well, the school system purchased Apple IIe's for each classroom back in the 80's. In the early 90's they were replaced by IBM compatibles and most recently by Dell's. Each of the teachers were told they could take their Apple IIe home or move them to a designated storage room. Most elected to not take them home. The storage room later became Mr. Vance's classroom and he inherited the equipment. Mr. Vance decided to setup and network the desktops and has been supporting this effort with other machines that he has salvaged parts from for the last fifteen (15) years.

Now the real bad news. Mr. Carruth, (AKA Mr. Vance - Student's nickname for him) will be retiring this coming June. This comes only after 39 years of service at the same school. Once Mr. Vance has gone, there will be no other teacher to take on this support effort and the Apple IIe legacy along with Mr. Vance will vanish from Smith School. Once Mr. Vance is gone the Apples will be sold to the highest bidders and only Dell computers will be found on the Smith campus. If Steve Jobs is listening - are you going to accept this defeat? I pray not!

Story by: Richard Hyman. Richard may be contacted at RAHTAHTAH@hotmail.com and Mr. Vance may be contacted at VANCECARRUTH@yahoo.com