New Documentary Uses Penn Wood High School to Illustrate America’s Digital Divide

By

Penn Wood High School student Jameira Miller is featured in the documentary that recently aired on the National Geographic Channel. Image via Clem Murray, Philadelphia Inquirer.

Penn Wood and Lower Merion high schools are featured in a new documentary that recently aired on the National Geographic Channel about the digital divide across the nation, writes Nick Vadala for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The documentary, entitled Without a Net: The Digital Divide in America, highlights the struggles students face when trying to access the Internet.


Advertisement

Director Rory Kennedy chose the two schools from neighboring areas to “show the stark contrast that can exist in opportunities even just miles apart.”

Despite their proximity to one another, the two schools have vastly different access to technology and learning materials. While Lower Merion students have access to 3-D printers and a robotics team, Penn Wood often lacks basic learning tools like textbooks.

The primary focus of the film is the Miller family, who filed a suit against the Pennsylvania Department of Education three years ago that focused on fair education funding.

The documentary is narrated by actor Jamie Foxx, and premiered on the National Geographic Channel last Tuesday.

Read more about the documentary in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.

Join Our Community

Never miss a Delaware County story!

"*" indicates required fields

Hidden
DT Yes
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Advertisement