Technology in Schools

Does anyone else find it odd that the kids that are in the most trouble (drop out, low performance, etc.) have the least access to technology that has been shown to help students? The fact that some teachers are still using projectors with transparencies is a disgrace.

But where should the blame go? Are teachers not making use of the resources available? Are administrators not searching out monies for their schools to use? Or is there just a lack of dollars? Or are these education dollars allocated wrong? Or is it something that I haven't thought of?

I would have to say that the problem lies in all of these, however, the majority I think is in allocation. Some of the onus lies on the Federal Government, as I know that technology funds to MA got zeroed during the Bush Administration. Technology to blow stuff up better is obviously more important than training kids to be productive citizens of the great United States of America. The fact is that the top 10 most in demand jobs didn't exist in 2004, only 6 years ago. Technology is the reason. The rate at which the world around us is changing is staggering. Right now India has more Honors kids than the USA has kids. If the US intends on staying a superpower, every kid needs to be developed as much as they can be, particularly in the fields devoted to technology.

Kids are now growing up surrounded by the Internet and are generally more tech savvy than the "teachers" that stand up in front of a classroom every day. They have been branded "Digital Natives" which is appropriate in my mind. If these Natives aren't allowed to utilize these skills by being exposed to even decently new technology in our schools, then it is quite possible that we are sacrificing tomorrows leaders and the USA's spot as the "Greatest Nation on Earth".

First/Purpose

Hey all-

This blog will essentially be devoted to my musings/opinions on various and asundry topics. Anything is game from sports to technology to music to science. Feel free to comment on anything, even to suggest that I am "unenlightened in my views" but keep it constructional, with evidence preferably. At the base of everything is that these posts are my OPINION on whatever topic that I choose. I welcome suggestions for topics and hope to address a very wide variety of issues. Let the fun begin!