Schools should teach, limit technology
The following is a Counterpoint
By Earle Bower
Charles Davenport Jr.'s column, "Schools must return to basics to succeed" (June 24), is right on the mark.
When core values of the school system are diversity, empathy and equality, you know we're in serious trouble. As Davenport suggests, the emphasis should be on reading, writing and arithmetic. I'd suggest geography, history and science as well.
In getting back to basics, computers and cell phones should be sharply restricted in schools. Computer use should be limited to students who have demonstrated proficiency in the basics. It should be a reward for performance, not a substitute teaching aid.
A recent study showed that for high school students, 40–50 calls or text messages daily was considered light usage. Heavy usage was over 120 messages per day. That's over 7 calls per hour or more than one every 10 minutes during the waking hours. Some students text messaged friends across the room in class.
No student needs a cell phone in class. They should be left in lockers or turned in to the administrative office each morning. Students who need to make a call could retrieve their phone, make a call from that office, and then return it.
It would also be beneficial for students to do research in a library, as opposed to using Wikipedia. The student would learn a good deal more that way than by clipping an article from an internet source.
If the school system can't deliver on the fundamentals, it must go back to basics.
The writer lives in Greensboro.
Comments (9)
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What a shame the writer doesn't seem to be familiar with education and law these days. And my standard question: name a job that you want your children (or grandchildren) to have that doesn't involve using a computer anymore.
Technology isn't an extra and computer competency is, I believe, one of those state tests.
If no one ever shot students in school again, I might be tempted to agree that cell phones aren't necessary, but does the writer have a plan for that (small) feat?
Tevye said, "It's a new world, Goldie." (Fiddler on the Roof). And it is. And no one ever likes change -- even change for the better -- because it's painful.
Posted on July 3, 2007 6:54 AM
What are kids most competent in these days, computers and cellphones or reading, writing, and arithmetic, geography, history and science? Kids don't have to go to school to learn how to use computers and cellphones, they know how before they ever enter school. The LTE writer makes a good point about the purpose of schools that Sue totally misses. Computers may be an aid to education, they shouldn't be the primary focus.
Organizations tell you what their focus is with their value statements, and GCS says equality, diversity, and empathy. Those are social matters, not the subject of education. It's not difficult to understand why many of our kids are uneducated.
Posted on July 3, 2007 7:44 AM
Cell phones aren't allowed in college, and that experience is not 100% subsidized by taxpayers. I had a prof. in college who made you leave class if your phone rang during her lecture. Cell phones are disrespectful, disruptive to a teacher's lesson, and subsequently distracting to other students.
As an IT Professional, and former employee of the school system, I have no problems with teaching kids computer basics: How to search the WWW, word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. If kids want to take it a step further, sure; teach them a programming language or how various operating system components interact with each other.
Having said that, I do believe that teachers wanting to use software to teach kids things like fractions, Algebra, or English grammar miss the point 99% of the time. Most classes I have observed using technology to teach such things spend more time showing the kids how to use the software rather than the skill it's supposed to teach.
Can this actually be observed in the real world? I think it can. Have you ever been to a retail store when the computers are down and the kid can't do something simple like count-up to make change for a cash transaction?
Teaching computer-skills is one thing, improperly utilizing technology to make an attempt at teaching the basics is nothing more than ignorance and irresponsibility.
Posted on July 3, 2007 7:57 AM
Amen, Bishop.
Posted on July 3, 2007 8:46 AM
Sue's comment is very insightful:
"What a shame the writer doesn't seem to be familiar with education and law these days. And my standard question: name a job that you want your children (or grandchildren) to have that doesn't involve using a computer anymore."
As a modification on neoKitty's usual blather, I would support throwing out the entire "No Child Left Behind" program claimed as the educational centerpiece of the Bush administration.
After that, we should examine ALL testing measures put in place by individual states.
Posted on July 3, 2007 9:11 AM
Bishop, you speak my mind!
Shalom
Posted on July 3, 2007 10:02 AM
“It would also be beneficial for students to do research in a library, as opposed to using Wikipedia. The student would learn a good deal more that way than by clipping an article from an internet source.”
I agree with most of the LTE except using the library for research rather than the computer. I haven’t been to a school library in a long time but I assume it’s the same as the Municipal libraries. Resources, especially in school libraries, are limited and looking up subjects, authors, titles, etc. is time-consuming. When the book is pulled, you then have to painstakingly look for subtopics in the books themselves, a process unnecessary when typing specific search criteria into the computer. Searching through books as the primary source of information is not IMHO the best use of time for research. Certainly, students should know how to use the library and it is necessary when certain books are needed, but I don’t think the student would necessarily learn more from a library as the writer claims.
Posted on July 3, 2007 10:35 AM
Thank you Bishop. Would you care to run for School Board? We all could use your sanity and insider knowledge!
Posted on July 3, 2007 1:29 PM
Right, Sue.
When the bullets start flying in my classroom, I hope to God I've got my cell-phone on me.
Maybe I text-message the shooter and request they stop shooting?
Using your logic, it would be much better to allow guns in school. That way I could actually defend myself. Cause we all know that no help is going to arrive until the shooter has already offed himself.
Posted on July 3, 2007 4:04 PM