babyboomer57 --
Absolute agreement. Until American schools can raise average reading and math scores to levels competitive with other top-scoring nations, technology in the classroom is a "nice to have" rather than a "must have."
I know: Mr. Dawson and others here might argue that computer/internet knowledge is a "basic skill" now, or that it's a "requirement" to function the modern world. I would argue that unless tech skills are underpinned with a solid verbal and math foundation, then children will grow into adults who merely use computers and mobile devices for Facebook, YouTube, shopping, and [semi-literate] texting.
As old-fashioned and unsexy as it is, most vital skills -- even in the Internet Age -- can be taught from books and chalkboards/whiteboards. Consider PISA 2009 results ( http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/54/12/46643496.pdf ): do you really think that all of the nations who outperformed the U.S. could boast "one laptop per child"?
Don't get me wrong: computer/web skills are great for children to learn. I just think that they need basic verbal, mathematical, and critical thinking skills first if they're to be anything more than docile, gullible consumers.
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