In Response To "Classrooms Have Become Unnecessarily High Tech"

Link to orignial article: http://www.mercurynews.com/community/ci_9034769?nclick_check=1&forced=true

Yes, I very much agree with Matt Baxter!! It is completely unnecesary for elementary school students to be taught how to use computers. The school I attended from kindergarten through 8th grade does not allow the use of computers in school or, ideally, at home. As a result, I did not touch a computer until the summer after I graduated 8th grade. I do not have much knowledge about programs like Adobe PhotoShop, or Fireworks, but Iam proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. In short, I don’t feel at all cheated, now that I’m in high school. I spent my childhood learning other valuable things.

Baxter also makes an excellnt point about the amount of money and effort we put into keeping schools up to date with technology. I can see where it is nice to use the new materials out there to help a teacher teach a concept, but teachers have been teaching the same subjects for hundreds of years without needing the help of technology. I would go as far as to say that many of the teachers teaching today are less knowledgeable about their topics because of new technologies. It is easy to let the internet and videos do the teaching.