>Are you talking about what happens with the old computers that are donated, or what happens to the NEW ones,

I'm talking about both.

>With the adults I've dealt with in the elementary school (teachers, administrators, and volunteers who know enough to be dangerous), very few of these computers are getting used for ANY purpose because the adults don't have a clue what to do with them.

...which is not such a loss if the computers were old anyway.

>Besides, what do you do with 2 computers and a class of 30 kids

That is my point. If you can find a way to make use of old PCs, you can have as many as you want.
>
>Personally, I think the schools should harness the next generation of geeks -- I think my 4th grader and 6th grader can run circles around the average adult, so let them show the adults what can be done!

That's why I think it could actually work. However, another serious obstacle that occurs to me is creaky infrastructure. Can you plug a roomfull of old PCs into the outlets of some dilapidated inner city school buildings without burning them down?