E-Rate

Lehrer, J (1999, September 17). Digital Divide. Online News Hour, Retrieved March 11, 2008, from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/cyberspace/july-dec99/digital_9-17.html


Although the article linked above is a little bit dated (it’s talking about the emergence of hi-speed internet access), it does bring up the issue of people who don’t have the technology resources they need, in order to become in tune with the online world.

One area with in the concept of the digital divide that I would like to focus on is how the lack of technological resources affects students. When thinking about this issue in the perspective of some of my students, I’m focusing more along the lines of children who are living in poverty. However, this interview brings up the idea of students who are even worse off than just poverty. Lehrer talks about (and to) families living on Indian reservations who don’t have running water and just recently got electricity, meaning that a phone line and computer access isn’t even a blip on the radar right now.

This interview also focuses on the program called E-Rate, which provides internet access to many schools. This article really got me thinking about government funding for technology, and how much more I wish they would do J (don’t all teachers?)! Considering this interview was done in 1999, things have hopefully improved since then….although not for everyone. Does this mean that things will improve even more as time goes on? Or will government money not be spent on technology any more? No one can predict the future, but I can say that I would hope the government is able to see how important it is for schools to be “technologically sound.” Our student’s futures depend on it.