Unequal Internet Access "Widening the Gap" Between Rich and Poor Students

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Common Dreams

Published on Thursday, February 28, 2013 by Common Dreams

Unequal Internet Access "Widening the Gap" Between Rich and Poor Students

A new survey by the Pew Research Institute found that students from low income households are at a "disadvantage" when it comes to technology in the classroom

- Lauren McCauley, staff writer

As many schools are racing to adopt the latest technologies—tablets, e-readers, cell phones—in their classrooms, low income students and poorly funded school districts are being left in the dust. A survey of middle and high school teachers released Thursday found that the growing gap in internet access between rich and poor students is leading to increasingly troubling disparities in education.

Published by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, the survey found that only 3 percent of students in low income families have access to the internet at home through a computer or mobile device; the number rises to 20 percent for middle income children and half for those in higher income families.

According to the report, teachers in urban areas are the least likely to say their students have sufficient access to digital tools in school, compared to rural teachers who are least likely to say their students have sufficient access at home.

The respondents admitted that this growing disparity in access is leading to a gap in performance, with over half saying that "today's digital technologies are widening the gap between the most and least academically successful students."


Read more: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/02/28-6

[pnwmom]

1. Yes. If you want to help a family that's got a place to live but is still struggling,

getting them a computer and paying for Internet access could make all the difference for any middle or high school students. The only alternative for many kids is the library, and not every kid has access to one.

[azurnoir]

2. so true

my son's High School is in the inner-city and a relatively poor area , some of his classes literally all homework is on the net, which leaves kids without an internet connection at home out in the cold, sure they can use the schools computers after school for this stuff however to save money the school has ended after school activity bus service, city bus service leaves much to be desired too, but some of these kids have 2 choices-fail or walk a couple of miles home in sometimes sub-zero weather

[Rabid_Rabbit]

3. Only 50% of higher income families have access to the internet?

That doesn't seem correct.
I do find the schools rush to technology worrisome. My son Middle School will be attending later this year and was shocked to find out that there will be no more text books (at least for math and science), the kids are expected to access this information online.

[totodeinhere]

5. I'm wondering about that too.

I know this is anecdotal, but most of my circle of acquaintances are middle income people, certainly not rich, yet I don't know anyone who doesn't have Internet access.

[KansDem]

4. It's called the "digital divide"

It's a very-real problem in this country. Information fluency should be stressed in school beginning with the early teens.

I see "information illiteracy" on a daily basis and its not a pretty sight!