DIGITAL DIVIDE
Report Card Mixed on Free Computers for Pupils (NYT)
FCC
FCC Chairman Responds to the D.C. Circuit's Decision on EEO Rule
(FCC)
INTERNET
Let's Not Rush Into Electronic Voting (SJM)
E-Mail Contact With Teachers Rare (NYT)
DIGITAL DIVIDE
REPORT CARD MIXED ON FREE COMPUTERS FOR PUPILS
Issue: Digital Divide
Last year, Computers for Youth, a nonprofit organization gave every student
at the KIPP Academy in the South Bronx a free secondhand computer to use at
home. Loaiza Colon's computer broke down three months ago. Other students,
whose computers are still running, have complained that they cannot continue
paying for Internet service or ink for their printers or use the computers
mainly for video games. These experiences reflect the benefits and
shortcomings of a new type of computer donation program that focuses on
placing computers directly in students' homes rather than in schools. Such
programs have become increasingly popular in recent years as educators
promoted the advantages of home computers and companies latched onto
computer donations as a means of philanthropy as well as tax breaks.
Computers for Youth recently surveyed 155 KIPP students who got free
computers last year. Only half said they were still using them daily or
weekly.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Nina Siegal]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/17/education/17COMP.html)
(requires registration)
FCC
FCC CHAIRMAN RESPONDS TO THE D.C. CIRCUIT'S DECISION ON EEO RULE
Issue: Jobs/FCC
Yesterday, the D. C. Circuit, in a decision by Judge Ginsburg, joined by
Judges Sentelle and Henderson, held that the FCC's EEO rule "put[s] official
pressure upon broadcasters to recruit minority candidates, thus creating a
race-based classification that is not narrowly tailored to support a
compelling governmental interest and is therefore unconstitutional." The FCC
Chairman William released a statement in response to the court's ruling:
"Today's decision is a defeat for diversity. At a time when many Americans
are outraged at the lack of minorities in prime time and in the boardrooms
of America, the broadcasters have once again used the courts to strike down
even a modest outreach effort."
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Speeches/Kennard/Statements/2001/stwek103.html)
See Also:
COURT RULES AGENCY ERRED ON MANDATE FOR MINORITIES
[SOURCE: New York Times (A15), AUTHOR: Stephen Labaton]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/17/national/17RACE.html)
(requires registration)
INTERNET
LET'S NOT RUSH INTO ELECTRONIC VOTING
Issue: Internet
As part of the national concern about election reform, commissions and
legislative committees are meeting or preparing to meet across the country.
Many are suggesting that all-electronic, and even Internet based, voting
could be an answer to recent election troubles. But columnist Dan Gilmore
warns that such high tech solutions could cause more problems than they
resolve. Peter Neumann, principal scientist at Menlo Park-based SRI
International's Computer Science Lab, will testify to the high risks
involved with Internet voting before the California Assembly Committee on
Elections Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments. "You can't trust
the software platforms on which systems are running," says Neumann. "You
can't trust the servers. You can't even be assured you're getting software
from the server you think you're getting it from."
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Dan Gillmor]
(http://www0.mercurycenter.com/svtech/columns/front/docs/dg011701.htm)
E-MAIL CONTACT WITH TEACHERS RARE
Issue: Ed-Tech
Although e-mail is now ranked as number one application used on the
Internet, and even though most teachers in the nation have e-mail accounts
provided by their school districts, widespread electronic communication in
K-12 settings is not happening. Many districts don't provide e-mail
addresses to students, often because of liability concerns. In areas where
students have e-mail accounts at home, teachers have limited time during the
day to answer e-mail. Nevertheless, e-mail has opened communication between
teachers and parents, as well as among teachers and administrators in
schools. And in some cases, teachers are using e-mail to accept assignments
or discuss a project with a student. "But the lack of universal access by
students will limit this medium's use as a 'required' mode for some time --
except in high-income settings," says Hank Becker, professor of education at
the University of California at Irvine.
[SOURCE: New York Times (CyberTimes), AUTHOR: Susan Stellin]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/17/technology/17EDUCATION.html)
(requires subscription)
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