East Greenbush Schools' Computer Plan a Bad Idea

According to industry experts, putting computers in classrooms is a bad idea.

Steve Jobs, as the founder of Apple, was at one time responsible for putting most of the computers in our nations classrooms. I believe he donated most of them. In a Wall Street Journal interview he has stated that he used to think computers were an educational panacea. Today, having turned 40 and being a father, he has reluctantly conceded that: "What's wrong with education cannot be fixed with technology. No amount of technology will make a dent."

Dr. Arthur B. Robinson, President of the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine, having used advanced computers for 30+ years, would not allow any of his children to use a computer until they had completed mathematics all the way through calculus. He says: "Computer technology is advancing so fast, that long before a child reaches the point in life where he or she really needs a computer, the machine will be so different that early practice will be irrelevant."

Michael Bloomberg, the owner of Bloomberg Financial Markets, uses a sophisticated computer network to provide clients with financial information in his $400 million business which employs 2,300 people. Although his company is almost completely reliant on technology, he says: "If you have learned to think and read books, you can do spreadsheets...I think you would be better off without computers in the classroom."

In SILICON SNAKE OIL: SECOND THOUGHTS ON THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY, Author, astronomer and programmer, Clifford Stoll writes: "Every dollar that a school spends on computer technology is a dollar that won't be spent on books."

On the other hand you have Bill Gates. He gave $5 million to the National Education Association last year, stating: "I believe in public education." That's like giving $5 million to the IRS because you want to help the poor. What do you think his real motivation was?

Extensive research has lead some scientists to theorize that early exposure to computer terminals and television is a contributing factor in Attention Deficit Disorder.

By all accounts, computers are not worth spending nearly 20% of our annual budget on in one shot. According to many experts, they shouldn't be in our elementary schools at all. Let's have a little more debate on this before we borrow $7.3 million.

Please give this considerable thought before going to the polls July 1st to vote on the East Greenbush School District's $7.3 million technology plan.

DRC