[tags]education, parents[/tags]

As with most things, people with money, seem to make more money, and people who can afford education will do better than those without. Similar analogies with technology and our children also exist. As a School Board Trustee in semi-rural Michigan (although changing) with a higher than average poverty rate, I can see the disparities between the halves and have not.

As a parent who happens to be passionate about technology, I can see the advantage of coming from a family who is not worried about their next meal or if they can make a house payment. Don’t misunderstand me, I have a very modest income, and do not come from a “family with money”. 

Nonetheless, because I have the luxury of providing multiple computers and high speed Internet access, I can also provide access to “anytime” learning and “now” information. For many students, this access to information is not possible. Additionally, when school systems cannot afford to provide access to technology, we are severely handicapping them and telling them their future is not worthwhile. 

Everyday my daughters are learning more than some of their counterparts because of their access to technology.  

1. Hey Dad…how far away is the sun? I don’t know…why don’t we Google it? Instant information within seconds.

2. Dad where is Iran?  Lets use Google earth and take a look.

3. Dad what does Commutativity mean in math terms?   Lets look it up! 

In addition kids with access to technology learn………well……… technology. What happens when a computer crashes? , How do we install programs? How do we interact with people through the Internet? Why doesn’t this or that work, look at this new program! 

On any given day my kids create web sites, create webinars with their friends, research school work and non-related school work, access news as it pertains to the other worlds, etc…In other words, they are always expanding their knowledge beyond the basic classroom. As I type this, my daughter is taking an interactive Chinese course through the Internet with an instructor form China…at home, and she is only 13 yrs old.

Meanwhile, another student is limited to (if she’s lucky) an encyclopedia. Who will be offered the better education? Personal income should not play a role in the level of education/access to technology our kids receive. We say we treat all kids the same, but the reality is there are differences. I don’t expect all families to have the finances to provide their own computer lab, but I do believe it is the responsibility of our schools and states to insure all kids have access to the technology they need to succeed and compete, and make it accessible beyond the regular school day. If we are to compete globally, we need to offer opportunity to all children, not just the ones whose parents have the most money.