Reaction to "What Will Become of Children Like Miguel Fernandez?"

While reading this article, I couldn't help but think of how I would deal with the problems at Miguel's school if I was a teacher there. I think that teachers in over-crowded and under-funded schools can't completely stop these problems on their own but they can help make the classrooms more efficient for learning. Yesterday in group discussion we talked a little about things we could do to improve the quality of education. I just wanted to share some of our ideas with the rest of the class and see if anyone had any others.
One idea was to have a box of extra school supplies that were set aside for students that can't afford to buy them. Someone had a great idea to let friends and family know about what you are doing and ask if they could donate just one thing to the class. There are a lot of materials that are needed for school and if everyone just donated one item at family function or when friends get together then that might really help the students in the class who are struggling. Another great idea someone had was to have speakers come into the class that would be willing to donate their time. I was thinking that this could be someone representing a scholarship program but it could also just be someone who discusses their profession or trade. Also, museum tour guides may be willing to donate some of their time to speak. Someone else had a good idea to look for grants to purchase things that the students otherwise would never obtain, such as the disposable cameras from the video we watched. Class field trips that would enhance the learning experience would be good for a hands-on activity. Museums may offer a student discount or may be willing to waive the fees for entire classrooms. These are just a few of the ideas and if anyone thought of anything else feel free to share.