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Kagie 2
Despite the fears the author expresses, I agree that computers belong in the
classroom.
David Gelernter attempts to help educators and parents understand
this wave of new technologies that will be sweeping through their
classrooms. While he does list many positives, he is clearly biased towards
the negative aspects of the subjects. His sarcastic tone implies that he is not
overly fond with the sudden attention being heaped upon computers in
education. It is possible that his focus on what could go wrong is an attempt
to curb the enthusiasm of this new trend.
To begin, computers and smartphones should take a portion of the
blame in this generations lapse of spelling and grammar. However, I find it
hard to believe that they are the only reason this generation's basic skills
have declined. The author faults emerging software and programs for this
lapse, ignoring any other variables. Moreover, David Gelernter attributes the
decline of American schools largely to advancing technologies. He cites an
article from, The Wall Street Journal, about an unlisted school in Kentucky.
Who, because of the disregard for basic skills in an age of calculators, saw
computation scores fall by 10 percent. David Gelernter mentions only the
drop in basic skills, excluding any other data. Giving the reader only one
conclusion to draw, that the computer will hinder a childs basic skills.
Furthermore, basic skills should not be forgotten in this age; rather we
should endeavor to hardwire them into every young students mind. David
Gelernter says that while we worry about basic skills, we allow into the
Kagie 3
Kagie 4