So it’s come to this, has it? If you don’t have multiple computers with internet access and mobile access through your phones you’re now considered “under-connected” and disadvantaged in today’s society. This according to an article in USA Today: Many low-, and moderate-income families ‘under-connected’ to Internet. Seriously?!
My kids are good students, and involved in extra-curricular activities. They read for enjoyment. They didn’t get that way from having lots of computer and internet time. They didn’t get cell-phones until they reached middle-school, and then only because the school refuses to let them back into the building to call home if they miss the bus. We’ve had only one internet-connected computer for them to use until just this last month. Granted, we did get the second one because they’re often required to do online work for school, but now that we have it, it seems like there’s never a conflict any more.
If educators are really concerned about the lack of Internet connectivity among students, then why do they insist on giving assignments that require Internet use at home? Much of what I’ve seen them assign is stupid busy work. And it was only a few years ago that our school district had strict policies against electronics in the school. Cellphones and mp3 players would be confiscated. Now its”highly recommended” that each student have their own phone with a camera because the teachers will not provide time for the kids to copy notes from the board.
My wife and I, as supported by the medical community, have been struggling to limit our children’s screen time. We’ve made it a point to be “under-connected”. We hope to remain under-connected as long as possible. The problem is not a lack of Internet access. The article itself admits that nearly everyone has some form of connection now. The problem is educators creating a need where none was needed. The problem is parents allowing their children to become addicted to Internet use to where they are incapable of entertaining themselves without electronics. The problem is an electronics-driven culture where mega-companies devote huge amounts of money to convincing us we need The Latest and Greatest Device, even though the one we bought six months ago is just fine.
I’m not against computers, mind you. But do you know what it was that finally convinced my wife and I to get a second computer for the kids to use? My son learned to use 3D design software and wanted to continue practicing at home on his own time after finishing his homework. It doesn’t require internet access, but he was using the only computer that had it, which got in the way of his siblings doing their homework. We want to encourage our son to develop this potential job skill. We want our kids to finish their homework, no matter how inane the assignment (seriously, look at some of the sites they send our kids to and require X amount of time every day instead of completing X amount of work). Only one computer was powerful enough to run his design software, and it was the one with Internet. The computer we got to ease the bottleneck was less powerful, and technically we still only need one computer connected to the Internet. Not one of us uses our phones for Internet.
If the lack of Internet connected devices is really the problem, let’s start looking at cheaper solutions, like not requiring our kids to do so much online outside of school. Our kids are spending far more home-time on school work than I did at their age, and yet our kids’ scores continue to fall. Making them spend 15 more minutes by themselves every day on MobiMax, answering inane questions that rarely reinforce their actual schoolwork is not the answer. Unless the question is “how can I drive business to my friend’s new ‘educational’ website?”
Quite frankly, I’m increasingly suspicious of all these studies and movements and programs. I think far too many people have figured out that Americans will do anything if it’s “for the children!”, including waste vast amounts of money with no measurable benefit. Ironically, if I had to credit one public resource for our kids’ success, it’s one that is essentially free: the library. If I had to credit one educational resource it would be this: good teachers. Computers and the Internet are mere tools. More often than not they’re an impediment to my kids’ love of learning, not the cause.
No, I take that back. My kids learn quite a bit from the Internet. But they’re learning about things that interest them, outside of the cruddy rote schoolwork they’re assigned. My daughter is learning quite a bit about art from resources out there for artists. My sons are learning a lot about Pokémon. The Internet is best for self-motivated learning. Forced Internet school work is not self-motivated, and much of it is not even remotely stimulating. Most of the learning my kids get from the Internet occurs after their homework is done. But even that wouldn’t happen if we weren’t the meanest of parents who refuse to let them waste time playing games (well, other than the games their schools assign).
So I do admit there is some measure of truth to what the study says. Lack of connectivity and/or access to computers may put children at a disadvantage. But the availability of them doesn’t guarantee anything. Teachers still have to teach, and parents still have to parent. The Internet is not a substitute for adult involvement. If we leave our kids to their own devices (literally and figuratively) what they’ll learn will be next to useless. To my knowledge we do not yet live in a world that rewards high Candy Crush skills with six-figure incomes. And, now matter how much people may wish otherwise, we do not yet live in a world where parents are disposable. Anyone who says differently is selling something.
Well said.