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Computer and School Education There was a time when parents who wanted an educational present for their children would buy a typewriter, a globe or an encyclopedia set. Now those {{U}}(51) {{/U}} seem hopelessly old-fashioned; this Christmas, there were a lot of personal computers under the tree. {{U}}(52) {{/U}} that computers are the key to success, parents are also financially insisting that children {{U}}(53) {{/U}} taught to use them in school—as early as possible. The problem for schools is that when it {{U}}(54) {{/U}} computers, parents don't always know best. Many schools are {{U}}(55) {{/U}} parental impatience and are purchasing hardware without sound educational planning so they can say, "OK, we've moved into the computer age. " Teachers found themselves caught in the middle of the problem—between parent pressure and {{U}}(56) {{/U}} educational decisions. Educators do not even agree {{U}}(57) {{/U}} how computers should be used. {{U}}(58) {{/U}} money is going for computerized educational materials {{U}}(59) {{/U}} research has shown can be taught just as well with pencil and paper. {{U}}(60) {{/U}} those who believe that all children should have access to computers, warn of potential dangers to the very young. The temptation remains strong largely because young children {{U}}(61) {{/U}} so well to computers. First graders have been seen willing to work for two hours on math skills. Some have an attention span of 20 minutes.{{U}} (62) {{/U}} school can afford to go into computing, and creates yet another problem: a division between the haves and have-nots. Very {{U}}(63) {{/U}} parents are agitating {{U}}(64) {{/U}} computer instruction in poor school districts, {{U}}(65) {{/U}} there may be barely enough money to pay the reading teacher. |