Return-Path: <nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id eA9EcT910596; Thu, 9 Nov 2000 09:38:29 -0500 (EST) Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 09:38:29 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <3A0AB64A.B9F4C31D@attglobal.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: gv27349@attglobal.net To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-POVRACELIT:279] Re: Digital Divide -- A Skill or Access Divide X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.61 [en] (Win95; I) Status: O Content-Length: 4421 Lines: 89 Good Presentations skills often cloud other issues that are just as important. I can say as a public health nurse and health educator that there are significant populations that still remain without electriciy and telephone access in this country alone. That may not be a reality for you and me but it is for many. Please let us not discount them in presenting a different perspective. Mary Ann Corley wrote: > The following is cross-posted from the NIFL-technology list. The message > has direct applicability to the discussions we've been having on this > listserv about access to systems and institutions for all people. For those > of you who are currently subscribed to the technology list, please forgive > the duplicate message. > > -Mary Ann Corley > Director, National Center for > Literacy and Social Justice > macorley1@earthlink.net > > *************************************** > > Yesterday on NPR's All Things Considered, conservative thinker Dinesh > D'Souza gave a 3 minute commentary on the Digital Divide. You can listen to > his commentary (Real Audio File) at > http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/20001107.atc.13.rmm > > In his commentary, he argues that the Digital Divide is really a skills > divide and not one of access. He mentions that five years ago when computers > cost $2500, he could understand that many could not afford it. However, > today with computer costs coming down and used computers costing as much as > a television, and with cheap to free Internet access, he says that the issue > is not one of access but of skills/knowledge. He mentions that getting > Internet access today is liken to getting telephone access or television > access. He also makes the point that internet access is available at public > schools and libraries and that someone who wants Internet access can get it. > > As a means of solving this problem, he goes on to argue that we must teach > the young people of today not only how to use the technology but also its > value in the new world. > > Did any of you hear this commentary? If so what did you think? > > My Views: > He portrays the digital divide ONLY as a skills divide. I disagree with that > view. To me that is exemplified by the struggle adult education programs > have to go through to gain Internet access in their programs. Many times, > they are barred from accessing the computer labs with Internet access that > are housed in the very same public school building that they are housed in, > and are used with the "young people" that Dinesh D'Souza talks about. In > Connecticut (as is probably not uncommon nationwide), programs have had to > remind, advocate, and lobby with their local public school districts to be > included in their school-district wide networking initiatives or technology > purchasing initiatives, from which they are typically excluded. > > Why do I talk about program access? Because for adult education programs to > educate people on technology, which I agree with Dinesh D'Souza is the way > to liberation for many, adult education programs need to have access > first..... and that IS an issue today. Hopefully, with initiatives like the > CTC and our commitment to technology planning, access won't be an issue in > the near future. > > Yes, theoretically access should not even be an issue in a country as > affluent as this one. For that matter, many other issues like health > insurance also should not even be an issue.... but they are... because (I > believe) of fear, prejudice, and power. > > Another question is "where" is the access. I don't believe that having > access ONLY through the public libraries or schools is sufficient. The > technology definitely needs to be part of the home and I am not convinced > that the technology is as affordable as Dinesh D'Souza makes it out to be. > > Lastly, I would like to say that when stating his problem of how Blacks and > Hispanics are not accessing the Internet as much as Whites and Asians are, I > am not sure if Dinesh D'Souza is referring to adults or "young people". > However, when he proposes the solution of skills education, he only makes > mention of educating the young people and says nothing about adults. > > I am also not sure what his views are on who should pay for the > education/skill building that he talks about. > > Ajit Gopalakrishnan > Capitol Region Education Council > 111 Charter Oak Avenue > Hartford, CT 06106
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