3.667 computers, humanism, children, cont. (61)
Willard McCarty (MCCARTY@vm.epas.utoronto.ca)
Mon, 30 Oct 89 20:13:28 EST
Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 3, No. 667. Monday, 30 Oct 1989.
(1) Date: Sun, 29 Oct 89 23:36:00 EST (15 lines)
From: <HALPORNJ@IUBACS>
Subject: And a little child shall lead us
(2) Date: Mon, 30 Oct 89 10:56:43 MDT (27 lines)
From: SKIP KNOX <DUSKNOX@IDBSU>
Subject: 3.658 computers, humanism, and students (164)
(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 89 23:36:00 EST
From: <HALPORNJ@IUBACS>
Subject: And a little child shall lead us
In regard to messages from Willard et al. on children and computers, I
recall years ago when we got our first microcomputer saying to my wife
that we would have been helped immensely if we had gotten with it a
small male child (these days male or female) between 10 and 15. Alas,
we were not so fortunate, and I'm a poor substitute for that. On these
lines, there was an amusing piece on batch files for children in the
computer column of the Chicago Tribune for Sunday Oct. 29. The
author's daughter who learned how to access the game she liked through
her father's writing her a batch file on his hard disk, also added that
now having learned A-Z at school, she had only to learn how to tie her
shoelaces to be finished with school forever.
(2) --------------------------------------------------------------35----
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 89 10:56:43 MDT
From: SKIP KNOX <DUSKNOX@IDBSU>
Subject: 3.658 computers, humanism, and students (164)
If anything, Willard, I see evidence to the contrary. Technological
innovation in the realm of information consistently leads to more
freedom for the common man. Writing made possible law codes, which
freed commoners from the tyranny of the "law-rememberers", who were
invariably aristocrats. The printing press freed everyman from the
tyranny of monks and priests. Newspapers, and their inheritors in radio
and TV, opened the doors of diplomats and politicians, and made it
possible for the common man to participate in politics. And computers
have played a vital role in resistance movements in Central America and
in China. Who knows what role they've played in the recent developments
in eastern Europe.
None of these innovations were unmixed blessings, and it would be naive
of us to expect them to have been; but I object to the sort of
neo-Chartist mentality that frets over how the computer will bring
changes that are beyond our abilities to cope. There are ramifications,
but I think they will be worked out pragmatically, in law courts and
schools and the work place. I'm not sure we as humanists can address
the issues directly because most of the issues are not yet clearly
defined. Law is a noticeable exception.OC
Skip Knox, Boise State University, DUSKNOX@IDBSU