One of the most dangerous notions being pushed by the current Bush Administration is the idea that "access" to computers for the poor somehow negates the concept of a "digital divide". The discussions here have all talked about the "social" divide but I wanted to add that this divide seems, as always when dealing with the poor and disenfranchised, deliberate. Most American children have computer access at school. However, it is only the wealthier schools that offer courses in programming rather than in word processing! The difference educationally is tremendous. One set is being taught how to make the computer work for them ( able to program it for their own purposes), the other set is being prepared to use that same computer as a glorified typewriter for the purpose of being a white collar worker. So the exposure to computers is not a magic formula for bringing the masses out of poverty but another means whereby we train folks for the higher end and lower end jobs of society--as we've always done. It is sad but not surprising.
Lolita A. Wood-Hill City College of CUNY Deputy Director, Program in Premedical Studies Coordinator, Post Baccalaureate Premedical Certificate Program J-529 138th Street @ Convent Ave. New York, NY 10031 (212) 650-7845 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/>
