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UJhat about the paper and pen? It might be ...
Twenty years ago-even just ten- of a local seven-year-old, Robby, said
students went to school armed with she feels their Intellivision system is
only a pencil and a notebook. Today's good to a point, ”1 wouldn't want
student has a vast and ever-growing Robby to stay in all day long and play
resource of knowledge and aid in Donkey Kong or anything," she said,
education in the form of technology. "but I think it teaches children some
Many homes that contain teen good things, like how to think for
agers or young children these days themselves and make decisions." She
also contain home computers, VCRs also said she feels that it teaches
(video cassette recorders), Atari children how to handle stress and
video game systems, or at least, pressure. The Kirchofer household is
cable TV. also equipped with cable TV, another
Chris Dillion, of the Computer source of education if used right. Said
Works in Bellevue, said, "W e sell more Barbara, "Cable TV has a little bit of
and more computers every year to everything. Some of the things on
families with young children. Parents cable aren't good for Robby, but you
believe that they should expose their can find a lot of educational shows,
The present way of taking notes with paper and
children to computers at a young age pen may be advancing to the screen and if you just look. On Nickelodeon, the
so they will be prepared for the keyboard. children's network, there's a lot of
computer-age future." quality shows. She said that she like to
"The child with access to a everything. I may even go into a have Robby watch shows that are
computer has a great advantage computer-related field now." interesting, but also have him learn
over those who don't, I believe," Dillion Besides computer programing, something in the process.
claimed. Huff said that the computer has "Not that Robby sits around
Tisha Huff, a Ralston High School helped her with her homework, and watching documentaries all day long.
sophomore who is one of the students also taught her some basic skills, like His favorite show is the 'A-Team'. I just
with access to a computer in her own typing. "I took typing in school," Huff like him to watch a variety of shows."
home, said, "I've really enjoyed said, “but the computer games have Twenty years from now, or maybe
having the computer, if nothing else, helped me become a better typist, even closer to 10, who knows what
though, I have also learned quite a bit, and it's more fun on the computer students will have to entertain and
too. I've learned how to program a anyway." teach them. By then, the paper and
computer, and I think that's important. Another type of home computer pencil could be old-fashioned and out
I'm glad I learned about computers is the Atari or Intellivision video of date.
now, because I want to keep up with systems. Barbara Kirchofer, a mother
10/technology
