Journal #4

NEA Today March 2008
Mind the Gap: It’s a high-speed, high-def, WI-Fi world. But not for everybody.
Written by Cindy Long

Children without computers and access to the Internet in 2008?!? This cannot be true but sadly it is. This article mentions how there are approximately 30 million American households without computers and thus those families have no access to the Internet at home. In order for these Americans to get access to computers they are forced to travel either to the local library or a school library. For students, not having access to computers at any given moment is detrimental to their academic career. More and more students are required to use computers to type reports and conduct important research online on a daily basis. Computers are therefore essential to students’ success. For those students who do not have daily easy access to computers they are in jeopardy of falling into the “digital divide” otherwise known as the participation gap. According to the article, 39 percent of Hispanic children, 45 percent of Black children, 11 percent of Asian and Pacific Islanders children, and 15 percent of White children only have access to computers at school or the local library (Long, 1). The article seeks to encourage people to press for Internet access for all through contacting the local and federal governments.

Questions:

1) How can we implement a universal Internet program realistically?

I do not think it is possible to implement a universal Internet program realistically, that’s the problem. In order for everyone to have access to the Internet they would first have to have a computer at home. As the article mentions, 30 million American households do not have computers. If 30 million American households do not have computers how can we possibly hope to give Internet access to every American? I think this is a noble idea but not a practical one.

2) How could the “digital divide” affect me as a future teacher?

The “digital divide” could severely affect me as a future teacher. As a teacher I will definitely expect that all my students will have access to computer daily. Unfortunately, I know that this is unrealistic. However, as an educator I will be required to uphold the state teaching standards and thus will have to expect my students to use computers and the Internet daily. I will try to allow some leeway on assignments dealing with computers.