Children and Technology

Today at work I learned something new and slightly disturbing.  If disturbing is the right word for it.  A lady, who is a teacher, came in the office and told us about a new technology that her particular district is about to embrace when school starts back in the fall.  I don't remember what grade she teaches but at this point it hardly matters.

At any rate, she told us that the district is about to acquire...crap I forgot what she called it.  Anyway, it's some kind of little Tablet or Kindle-type device.  Every child gets one for their very own, they pay very low payments for them until they're paid up, etc etc etc.  And I was like, "Oh, that's very cool.  That's nice," yada yada yada...

Until I learned that they are designed to replace text books.

And notebook paper.

I was completely appalled.

Maybe I'm old-fashioned.  I was in school JUST BEFORE the world became completely dependent on technology.  I graduated just before the "take your cell phone to school" era and the "i" everything era and all the mobile technology as far as the eye could see.

I grew up and was taught on good old fashioned paper and no.2 pencil.

And I believe I am better for it.

Everyone learns differently.  But I believe that to some extent, in one way or another, we are all some type of visual learner.  I honestly don't think I would have learned anything if I didn't have to flip through a text book and write it all down.  I believe the act of researching text does wonders for the mind.  There's nothing like something in a text book catching your eye on your way to researching the subject at hand, and taking a moment to stop and learn something new.  Pages were so much easier to flip back and forth than having to hit "back" buttons and waiting on new windows to load or worrying about your battery life or whether you're getting any service or reception.  With a text book you didn't have that underlying fear that "what if something happens and I am unable to finish my homework??"

When I took a test, I remember subjects that would jump out at me and I would think, "oh yeah, I remember looking that up and reading about that," and having that visual of flipping through the book and remembering the page layout and how you found it and then the light bulb comes on and you figure out your answer.  A text book would never fail you.  Ever.

I grew up in an era where technology was strictly for recreational purposes.  At the time, there was nothing I needed on the Internet that I couldn't find in a book.  I grew up in a time where the distraction from my homework was another BOOK.  I feel like books are sorely being taken for granted nowadays and that is truly, truly sad. 

I don't have any children.  But when I do, I don't want my children to go to school without text books.  I feel like text books are fundamental to a child's mental development.  Certain technologies are still associated with play time for children.  I realize that technology is swiftly advancing and technological learning is becoming the norm, but that doesn't mean that we need to throw away the basics.  How will a child effectively learn what he needs to learn if he's staring at a screen all day?  On a device that he goes home and plays games on?  How is his math or grammar going to stick if he's not taking notes and writing papers?  Text book work and note-taking and paper-writing not only stimulate the mind, but they also teach the mind to be disciplined.  Helps the child to learn their own mind, learn the way their own mind works, how learning is best for them, and how to find answers and solutions.  To LEARN.  Hand-made projects are not only educational, but are stimulating the child's creativity and giving them independence to learn something on their own.

When children are clicking buttons and taking online tests, where's the learning?  Teachers no longer become teachers, but tutors or monitors who are simply there to answer questions or troubleshoot said technology.  Where is the one-on-one learning?  Where is the enrichment of the child's mind?  The mentoring the teachers provide?  It will be in their students' hands on a screen. That sickens me.

The lady today said that since our world is getting more and more dependent on technology, they feel like these kids need to get an early start on it so that they may find jobs after they graduate and be more technologically inclined.  I say that most kids get plenty of familiarity with technology on their own time.  Hell, 2-year-olds can hack into cell phones now.  Do you really need to deprive Charlie Brown of a sufficient and adequate education?

Some of you, especially my teacher friends, may disagree with me.  Some may agree with me.  But it's very tempting to put my future children through home school if that's the way it's going to be.  I don't want my child's entire life to be staring at a screen.  I want work sheets, and notes and outlines, and the teacher delivering her lesson on the board.  Hand-held technology has no place in school.  At LEAST not until high school.

I understand this is a very poorly-written blog.  I promise they're not all this bad.  Unfortunately this is one of those subjects where, not only should I have spent more time on it, but it's one of those where you know exactly how you feel but putting it into words is a whole different ballgame.

I dunno.

Anyway, it's late.  I'm kind of sleepy.  Maybe I'll revisit this subject at a later date, with a clearer mind and a smidge more eloquence.

Until next time!  (Insert witty send-off here.)