>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

True, but it is deeper than just computers. We as Black people don't have our priorities straight when it comes to education anyway so computers are just the latest educational aspect we miss the boat on.

>
>>There probably
>>is a color bias in
>>which communities get them first.
>
>i'd probably say more economics.
>

Which often enough turns into a color bias anyway.

>>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?
>

I didn't say that or mean that. I'm just saying that
if kids aren't learning how to read or write or do math,
computers aren't the panacea(sp?) everyone thinks it is.

>> 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.
>

Seriously, if schools can't buy new books and
teachers have to buy their own paper, pencils,
etc., where are they getting the money to buy
computers and all the $$$ that goes
with it.

>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.
>

Yeah, but they cost $$$ which is one
of the problems inner city and rural schools
have. Until you fix that problem you can't
get computers.

>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.
>

You're right. Blacks prioritizing education
is a problem that existed before the 'net.
Until that is fixed, the 'net won't have
the power it should have.

>>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).

Maybe I just go to the wrong places, but sites
where communication actually lead to something
more than ranting and raving are few and far
between.

Too often we communicate with people all over
the world but it's alone in front of a screen
instead of face to face interaction.

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.
>
Which requires money, dedicated parents, dedicated
teachers, dedicated administrators, dedicated elected
officials, dedicated volunteers etc. You get those
and you'll get computers everywhere they need to be.


>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 you have better schools that actually
challenge younger kids rather than have them
tracked and branded with 'gifted' or 'slow learner'
or 'average' as soon as the walk into the school
system creating a home page wouldn't be amazing.
It's not amazing to me. That's no more amazing than
reading at a sixth grade level in first grade.

I'm with you on the last sentence though.

>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.
>

Well, the desire doesn't have to be an
either/or proposition, but I'll agree.
Laptops are a lot more expensive than
a razor scooter or a book though.

>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.

I agree with you overall I just think the
problem is more than 'computers'. The
problems we have with educational priority
were around before email.

Peace,

Shaun G.