It was painful to read that. We really need to fund our inner city schools better. If that wasn't a joke, my heart cries for the future of America.
Also, why is this in the Cricket PDA forum? Try the HTC forum. Android 2.2 does include a built in mobile hotspot. If you purchase a 2.2 device from a carrier this is likely disabled, however. You can purchase an application called PdaNet which will add that functionality back in for around $20. That's usually the price of 1 month of tethering from the carriers, so it's a great deal.