Teachers Resist High-tech Push In Idaho Schools

First time accepted submitter Jack W writes "This morning's NY Times highlights the issue of learning in our public schools and the proper role of technology. The Idaho governor and his state school superintendent are advocating a legislative bill for a massive infusion of computers and on-line technology in schools and is meeting resistance from state teachers, particularly the part of the bill that requires high school students to take online courses for two of their 47 graduation credits. Superintendent Luna is quoted as saying, the computer 'becomes the textbook for every class, the research device, the advanced math calculator, the word processor and the portal to a world of information.' The article notes that the governor had received campaign contributions from technology companies and that Apple and Intel had played a part in drafting the bill."

Comments

Re:And the same questions as always.

[PopeRatzo]

Throwing tech at a non-tech problem is stupid.

Worse than just stupid. Technology in the classroom will end up being a method of laundering tax money for corporations. Who among you thinks that the people who believe it's a good thing to have fewer teachers is going to make sure that our kids don't all end up going to the K-12 version of the University of Phoenix? For making sure that we don't end up with a nation of kids who got the equivalent of high-tech homeschooling?

Before you start (and you know who you are), there are examples of kids being home-schooled and turning out great. They are the exception. Think about the 150,000 or so Iowans who voted in last night's GOP caucus. "Salt-of-the-Earth" we are told. "Real Americans". Now think about them being solely responsible for their kids education. Let's take a ride to the Wal-Mart in suburban Sioux City. Let's look around at the people walking the aisles. Now tell me that the best thing we can do for their kids isn't to get them out of the house for six hours every day to give them at least a fighting chance.

One reason we have lots of teachers is that it lessens the possibility of kids only getting one teacher and having that teacher suck. If a state goes to "online classes" then the kids who take those online classes will be getting the same teacher. Those online classes will be a commercial product. Let's go back to Wal-Mart and have a look at the products on the shelves. Let's evaluate them for their quality. Do you really want to have the same corporate mentality that sells Americans the cheapest, flimsiest shit possible in order to maximize shareholder value be the ones in charge of producing educational materials for kids?

Use technology in education, by all means. Depend on technology? No thank you. The fact that the people of Utah don't like paying taxes is no reason to make their kids suffer. They don't know any better (the citizens of Utah, I mean).