Are Classroom Computers Hindering Education? (Patrick)

Are Classroom Computers Hindering Education?

                Technology is rapidly spreading and growing, and is quickly becoming a go-to source for knowledge and education, but are we really learning as much as we think we are? High-school teacher Michael Zwaagstra argues that young children in earlier grades learning how to use computers are wasting the chance to learn about more vital subjects such as math and English. However, computers are now the future, and it could be seen as vital that children learn to navigate one. Either way, computers may change a child’s education for better or worse.

                Some people might state that time is money, and the same could be said for education. Time is indeed education, and computer education cuts in to that precious time for younger grades. Zwaagstra questioned the logic behind teaching computer software to younger grades, as said hardware will eventually become outdated. Teachers only have so much time to educate with, and other, more beneficial skills could be leaned rather than computer education. On top of the time dilemma, computers can hinder skills such as spelling and writing, as computers will check your spelling for you, preventing you from honing literary skills. Not only that, but computers cost money, and that money could have went to hiring more teachers, which would have decreased class sizes and been more beneficial for both teachers and students alike. Overall, computers cut into both time and a child’s early education.

                However, computers can open up a new world of education for students. Learning how to use a computer and the software which corresponds with it can be a beneficial skill for a child’s life. Also, a computer with access to the internet can give a child a wealth of resources to work and learn with, helping the child grow. Learning how to use a computer could also help make a teacher’s job easier, as children could hand in their assignments online, allowing teachers to view all of their student’s homework in one place and take it anywhere with them. Computers can also provide career opportunities, and if kids find an interest early on in computers through school, they may find their own career path early on. To conclude, computers make time in the classroom easier and may provide a future for many students.

                Contradictory to this, in my opinion, I believe that Zwaagstra is correct in arguing that students are losing vital education time by learning about computers. I believe students in early grades should not be learning about technology that they will eventually learn later in their life. This technology will continue to grow, and students will learn what they need to when the time is right. Funds meant for schooling should be going to more beneficial things, rather than having children learn about software soon to become obsolete. Computers may open the door for some, but in the end, the educational time wasted on them hurts all.