[Someone1234]

It is worth keeping in mind, that in particular in the 1990s, many "computer" and "IT" teachers were just other types of teachers who happened to have been roped into it.

So to say they knew nothing about computing would be an understatement. Many of them literally only knew what was in the course material and nothing else. Yet they were the school's "expert."

If a kid broke a computer, everyone was screwed. The teacher couldn't fix it. And they would have to get in an outside company, like RM, or HP to fix it. That could take weeks.

This should go some way of explaining the mentality of these teachers. They were always living on borrowed time and knew they didn't know anything. A single bad incident would reveal all. That's why you get so many stories like this, it is also why it was unlikely that a teacher would be able to create a fun project for such a student (because they didn't know anything!).

Things have changed a lot since then. Not only are teachers technically better, but security is better, and technical support infrastructure is better defined (i.e. schools actually have an "IT guy" even if they're working for a third party).