All That Glitters is Not Gold

In light of the belief that it's important to give kids access to computers, this Duke University study may convey important information. The researchers compared the academic achievement of North Carolina public school students with their access to home computers. Screening out socio-economic differences, they found that "home computer technology is associated with modest but statistically significant and persistent negative impacts on student math and reading test scores".

While this study doesn't look at the effect of school computers on student achievement, it is suggestive. Given the obvious disadvantages of hi-tech school installations (the cost of the hardware, the software and the retrofitting; the continuing need for tech support; the rapid obsolescence; the disruption to classes and the opportunities computers give students to view porn and chat with their on-line friends; and the fact that many teachers don't have the training to use computers to good advantage), perhaps it's time to slow the mad rush to mass computerization in schools.

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