Wojciech,
I must say that the first argument is a perfect example of how people in developed countries often lack the foresight and local knowledge required to adequately decide whether a technology truly is "appropriate". Forget the merits to education or the potential for employability skills -- those are secondary to the potentially negative health effects of the laptops.
Responses of the Western civiliation to the needs of the "developing" countries abound. The Westerners have developed this keen "foresight" as to what the "other" countries really need. In the meantime, merits of access to computers in education are questionable. There does not seem to be any direct link between computers and raised student academic achievement. What constitues "academic achievement" is yet a different matter. Commercial use of the Internet is most prevalent and one may argue that it is the Western culture that is carried through the newest of technologies. Western thought imposed on other lands does not always bring the desired fruits of stability and prosperity, does it? I believe that the Indian government's actions deserve more of a dialogue, then outright condemnation. That only builds resentment. Best, Jarek
From: "Wojciech Gryc" <wojciech@gmail.com> Reply-To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Subject: [Air-l] India Rejects One Laptop Per Child Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 00:49:50 -0400
Hi,
Keeping in mind the long discussion that was posted a few weeks ago with regards to the merits (or lack thereof) of the One Laptop Per Child project, I thought this may interest subscribers of this list:
HRD rubbishes MIT's laptop scheme for kids http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1698603,curpg-1.cms
So India has decided against the One Laptop Per Child Project (for now). Two arguments that stood out for me:
1. Poor rural children often have health problems that may be exacerbated by laptop use, especially those affecting eyesight and children's backs. 2. No developed country has universalized laptops for children, so why should India?
I must say that the first argument is a perfect example of how people in developed countries often lack the foresight and local knowledge required to adequately decide whether a technology truly is "appropriate". Forget the merits to education or the potential for employability skills -- those are secondary to the potentially negative health effects of the laptops.
Thanks, Wojciech Gryc
--
Five Minutes to Midnight: Youth on human rights and current affairs http://www.fiveminutestomidnight.org/ _______________________________________________ The air-l@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org
Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/