I'm embarassed at the fraud being perpertated on schools in the name of
"computer education": overpriced systems, sub-standard software,
maintenance contracts, etc. but is anyone really learning anything?

I wish I could see a reversal of this trend.

There are organizations that help school students build their own computer
systems (for in school use), really cheap. That is, the students themselves
BUILD the computers. It's tough to get ripped off if you build it yourself.
Oh, and if you learn to build it yourself, that is a real education right
there. -Dave