from the point, which (imho) is:

having computer (not just, but not negating internet) experience/skills/exposure IS important in terms of marketability/competitiveness and it should be a priority to get it and make sure your kids/communities do

>There probably
>is a color bias in
>which communities get them first.

i'd probably say more economics.

>Personally I think the importance of
>the internet is a little
>overrated.

no different than libraries. access to the information which is driving society.

not to be funny but...your answer is kinda (to me) like saying:
automobiles are overrated, why can't we just walk?

> Yeah, it's nice
>that schools have computers, but
>if they aren't teaching the
>three R's correctly what's the
>point.

the point is, that by not having computer/net access we deny ourselves the opportunity to make up for other holes which exist. example: local schools which have no books. instead of buying NEW ones, get a couple of computers and you'll have access (potentially) to the most recent editions.

need help with math? there are tons of resources ON THE NET.

school doesn't have money for field trips to museums/zoo etc?
usmp on the net, stream some video and it becomes a lot easier to spark some interest.

the possibilities are ENDLESS.

rather than buy your kid a new fubu suit...buy them some aol access (or something) and let them learn.

to a certain degree this post was about prioritizing.

>Other than email and researching topics
>quickly what can you do
>on the internet that is
>really impossible to do anywhere
>else?

with a decent computer and fast enough access you can communicate with a worldwide audience. you can literally see and talk with people across the world (at a much cheaper rate than any other readily available medium, and much faster than most also). and don't shortchange researching...what else shoudl a student be able to do? i think we both agree that in order for student to compete (or just mature beyond the many current boundaries/roadblock inherent to today's school systems) we want them to have access to the best tools.

and don't sleep i personally have taught FIRST GRADE kids how do generate a homebpage...the entire time I (internally) shook my head thinking: are the six year olds in areas like MINE getting this training (due to lack of interest/means/whatever)? i can only have so many seminars/tutoring sessions. parents gotta see the value in this stuff too (and most do, but many somehow miss the connection in terms of what THEY can do to help).

if every kid who has one of those razor scooters had as much desire to get their hands on a laptop or a book or something i'd have a whole lot less fear for the future than I do now.

i'm not silly enought to think a computer is a magic pill, but as the future hurtles toward a time when technology doubles in half the time it took compared to just say 5 years ago -- who's gonna represent folk like US in the next gen?

knameen.

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