Don't teach your kids this stuff. Please?

  

dear parent

  teacher

  administrator

  board member

     

don't teach your kids to read

  for the Web

  to scan

    RSS

    aggregate

    synthesize

 

don't teach your kids to write

  online

pen and paper aren't going anywhere

since when do kids need an audience?

no need to hyperlink

  make videos

    audio

      Flash

      

no connecting, now

no social networking

  or online chat

  or comments

  or PLNs

blogs and twitter?

  how self-absorbed

  what a bunch of crap

and definitely, absolutely, resolutely, no cell phones

block it all

lock it down

keep it out

it's evil, you know

  there's bad stuff out there

    gotta keep your children safe

    

don't you know collaboration is just another word for cheating?

don't you know how much junk is out there?

haven't you ever heard of sexting?

  of cyberbullying?

a computer 24-7? no thanks

  I don't want them

    creating

      sharing

        thinking

          learning

you know they're just going to look at porn

  and hook up with predators

we can't trust them

don't do any of it, please

  

really

'cause I'm doing all of it with my kids

can't wait to see who has a leg up in a decade or two

can you?

  

Comments

[Chris Champion]

1.

Trouble, oh we got trouble,
Right here in River City!
With a capital "T"
That rhymes with "P"
And that stands for Pool,
That stands for pool.

We've surely got trouble!
Right here in River City,
Right here!
Gotta figger out a way
To keep the young ones moral after school!
Trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble...

[Jim Gates]

2.

Scott,

Good one! When I hear push-back about using these tools to teach with, etc I too suggest that it's OK not to. Go ahead, then. Let's stop raising the bar at the PowerPoint level. And, let's keep your blog-stopping/wiki-blocking filter in place, too. Let's freeze time right here and now - which of course is REALLY at a point ten years ago, but let's stop it right here and now.

Now, let's write an article for your District's newsletter that defends this position to the parents.

ARGH!

[Barry Dahl]

3.

Thanks for the inspiration Scott. I think I'll write a letter to the editor of the local paper somewhat along these lines. The local district is woefully inadequate in addressing all of these issues. If I do it, I'll post it to my blog and give you credit for providing the inspiration.

[Patrick Giroux]

4.

Nice!

do u mind if I translate it and put it on my blog (with the reference and a link to your blog).

[Becky Johnson]

5.

I e-mailed this to all the teachers at my school, my administrators, the district instructional technology department, and the content curriculum specialists. Booyah!

[Justin B.]

6.

Well done. I really enjoyed it.

[Charlie A. Roy]

7.

Bravo!

[David]

8.

Too true. Although I was reading an argument recently that said that in UK middle-class homes parents are restricting laptop-time, so that their kids developed more advanced speaking and listening skills.

The more enlightened English schools are finally starting to recognise the inequality access gap and are bringing social networking, blogging, mobile phone apps, into curriculum time, so that less well-off kids aren't disadvantaged.

But we're still outnumbered by the Canute-ists!

[Rob O.]

9.

Collaborating, sharing, learning. All fantastic things! But there's got to be some balance though...

I don't want to be some kind of head-in-the-sand Luddite, but at the same time, let's ensure that kids have adequate opportunities to learn how to thrive in the real world before thrusting them headlong into the cyberworld.

And I absolutely disagree with the notion that children need cell phones. Cell phones steal the independence & rationale from children (and truthfully, many adults as well) who carry them. Few adults even have a legitimate need for a cell phone. Children certainly do not!

[silvermine]

10.

Well, I mean, I'd rather they know how to do the basics then learn what a chat room is. However, I think having a class mailing list, or IMing the teacher if you need help (or whatever!) is great. Use technology as a tool, but don't have a class all about blogging.

Think about it: we all learned it without having a class. Didn't we?

[Gilbert]

11.

All the irony of Marc Anthony over Ceaser's body.

[Shelby]

12.

Nice

[Travis]

13.

Excellent article.

[Judy]

14.

Interesting comments! Judy

[BC]

15.

You can keep it out of the schools, or you can embrace and use the technology. Either way, kids WILL learn it. Not teaching it because you aren't comfortable with or don't understand, appreciate or get the subject matter is unacceptable and does a disservice to the next generation. It's the whole sex-ed debate all over again.

[Bob Follmuth]

16.

I know that whole thing "Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?" was written tongue-in-cheek, but...

I "only" teach in K-5 buildings, but many times hear coments that I shouldn't teach elementary students such things because... well, because... well there's bad stuff out there and you're just leading them into all that bad stuff.

Too often, we don't know why we "shouldn't" teach somethings, but we don't because... well, we don't really know why.

Yes, who will have the advantage next year, in 5 years, or in 10 years?

I love sarcasm and this is full of it.

BF

[Bob Follmuth]

17.

Jim, here's another angle: Many of us don't have to worry about those "blog-stopping/wiki-blocking" filters because we don't have the technology and access to take advantage of these tools anyway! Our own community has twice defeated a tax levy that would enable our District to update its aging equipment and networks. Where will we be 10 years from now? Right here on the outside looking in.
BF

[Lundp]

18.

The issue revolves around can students focus on appropriate uses and learning activities for the technology. Without teachers embracing and knowing the technology, its a crap shoot.

[Christina]

19.

Very true and a great message to those who resist the inclusion of technology and collaboration in the classroom. But, I will say from a school where we have one to one laptops and fairly decent technology training and use, some of the basics are still lacking. Are we preparing students for the future if they are capable of reading and utilizing the web but can't sit down and read a whole book? To be able to analyze what they are reading?

[Hripsime M.]

20.

Poetic, yet you got your point across very well. I myself am curious as to who will be more victorious in a decade or two. Well done.
Hripsime M.

[Linda V]

21.

I find all of your comments delightful! We have an administrator that really wants to cooperate, give us the tools we nned and the praise to go forth.. Now we need the district to stop taking the money. At one time we had all of the resourses we needed to accomplish these technological feats. Now the computers are breaking down and not being fixed or replaced. How do we get to the point of encouraging our kids even if we want to?
Linda V

[Kirstel]

22.

Nice one Scott! In my part my kids have access to the internet 24/7, but it's a matter of how you teach your kids on what's the purpose of using the internet. Degree Work

[Spring]

23.

It is so important to teach students the right way to use technology and monitor what they are doing. Quality post!

[Katherine]

24.

Mr. McLeod,

I had to read your post for my EDM 310 assignment. I don't really know what to say about your post. It's interesting. Right now I'm learning about blogging, podcast, and commenting on others blog post. I'm very much interested in technology and I'm thinking about using it for my future students when I become a teacher. I feel that when you are teaching children about the internet you have to teach them the positives and negatives. The world is changing constantly and things can't always stay the same, but I did enjoy reading your post.

[Heather]

25.

Mr. McLeod, My name is Heather Ludwig and I'm a special Education major at the University of South Alabama. I was given your post as an assignment for Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. As a parent and wife of an Electrical Engineer, that our daughter will use computers and cell phones on a normal base. We will use child locks and regulate the use to different sites. I do see technology in classrooms and out of classrooms a good thing.

[Kayla]

26.

Kids will use cell phones and laptops either way. You can pretend that you are fixing the problem by ignoring it, or you can teach them that talking is more beneficial than texting, and the dangers of the internet and how to be secure. It is like sex education - kids will learn it eventually, but it's what the learn and how they learn that matters. I also read this for Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class.

[Tabitha Greenlee]

27.

Our kids need technology! Danger is everywhere, even of they don't use the web and texting, etc., they are subject to the problems every other child can encounter. As adults we can either pay attention and incorporate technology in their life or let them fall behind.

http://greenleetabithaedm310.blogspot.com/

[Heather]

28.

Mr. McLeod,

I absolutely adore this poem. I am an English Education major in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class and was given this as an assignment. Your message is wonderful and I hope that I can get this across to my future student's parents and to my future employers.

[M J]

29.

Mr. McLeod,
My EDM 310 professor, Dr. Strange, at the University of South Alabama suggested we read your post. Your choice of words was very profound. Let's "not lock it down", but teach our students how to use the technology (and how to be safe when using it). You are very creative.

[M Jackson]

30.

Mr. McLeod,
My EDM 310 professor, Dr. Strange, at the University of South Alabama suggested we read your post. Your choice of words was very profound. Let's "not lock it down", but teach our students how to use the technology (and how to be safe when using it). You are very creative.

[M Jackson]

31.

Mr. McLeod,
My EDM 310 professor, Dr. Strange, at the University of South Alabama suggested we read your post. Your choice of words was very profound. Let's "not lock it down", but teach our students how to use the technology (and how to be safe when using it). You are very creative.

[Jamie Lynn Miller]

32.

Mr. McLeod,

I am a student at the University of South Alabama, and my EDM 310 professor, Dr. Strange, assigned this post for us to read. I love it, and especially your satire. I love how you bring the audience in with your different descriptions of what happens on the internet. There are always advantages and disadvantages to everything in the world, but technology is a must for the new generation. Thanks for ending the post saying that you are doing it with all your kids. It is important to guard what occurs but not completely restrict children from the world.

Thanks,

Jamie Lynn Miller

[Kimberly McNorton]

33.

I am Kimberly McNorton from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I was told to read this and relay my thoughts. This poem was interesting and descriptive. It made me think. I honestly believe there has to be a balance when using technology. On one hand, I see where we overuse technology but I also see that in these times technology is a must. As a teacher I would like to think I could find a balance in using technology.
Thanks,
Kimberly McNorton

[Jessica Purvis]

34.

I also read this for Dr.Strange's EDM310 class, and all I have to say is well said Mr.McLeod!

[Tina]

35.

@ Chris: Great reference to 'Trouble in River City'

[Dina Tillman]

36.

Dr. Strange suggested we read your post for our EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. Unfortunately I think our school district may be heeding your "advice" to not teach this new technology in the classroom. The more I learn in my EDM310 class, the more concerned I am about where my own children will be in 10 years compared to other children who have access to all of this new technology.

[Amanda]

37.

I love your post! Thank you for sharing it with the world! :) I cannot wait to get in the classroom and help teach my students how to utilize technology to the fullest. I am from the University of South Alabama EDM 310 class.

[Cuong Do]

38.

My name is Cuong Do from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. (I don't know why they insist on writing that. It makes it sound like we only read it because it is an assignment.)

Ouch! What a poetic twist at the end. I was really wondering where you were going with this poem, but that ending was awesome. Parents always seem to stress on the negative aspects of the media as opposed to the limitless positives there are. And because of these parents refusing to allow these children to learn media literacy, they are giving all other children who are media literate a HUGE competitive edge over their own children. How naive of them.

[August Debyser]

39.

I was required to read your post for Dr. Strange's EDM310 course at the University of South Alabama. You are absolutely correct, I am now just being familiarized with these tool's you mention. I am now far behind the multimedia power-curve, The type of ignorance you mention in your post is going to be difficult to eliminate but it is our job as educators and future educators to try.

[Tiffany Lindell]

40.

I am also in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your post. This was very interesting to read. How will the students now be able to stay current with the ones of tomorrow. Technology is improving each day. We as adults need to stay current on these new technologies as well in order to teach our children. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[Danielle]

41.

Hello!
My name is Danielle and I was required to your post for my Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. While I agree that we should be teaching our children how to use the technology available to us today, in my opinion, children don't need to be on computers, cell phones, and internet 24/7. There has to be a stopping point. There is "bad stuff" out there and children need to be protected from these things. Now, I am all for teaching students how to email, IM, maybe even make a movie but like I said there should be a stopping point. Thanks for a challenging post!!

[Dwight Jerkins]

42.

I had to read your post for an assignment in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I agree that as teachers and parents we should be teaching children to use technology and learn new technology, but I it should be monitored as well. If not there might be some things they get into that isn't suitable for them.

[Jennifer Chambers]

43.

I am with Rob O, let's ensure that kids have adequate opportunities to learn how to thrive in the real world before thrusting them into the cyberworld. I see where this can be done as long as we introduce our students to technology in an educational format and be cautious of what we present to them and make them aware of the dangers of the internet. Our students and kiddos are precious and they are young only once.

[Poppy]

44.

I read your post as an assignment for my EDM 310 class at University of South Alabama. I really liked your poem. Education is key, teaching our kids how to use the above techniques mentioned in your poem in an ethical way will help erase many of the stigmas about the internet and technology being so "evil" as some might say. This is amongst one of the many reasons that I will be using technology in my future classroom. Thanks for sharing your poem, I look forward to reading more.

[Carlecia McIntosh]

45.

Hello my name is Carlecia McIntosh and I am in Dr. Strange's DM 310 class and your post is a bit much though it is somewhat true. Technology is helpful and harmful to many of our students if they do not use if for the right reason. It is very educational and if students are not monitored by their parents or an adult it can become harmful because they may use if for the wrong reason

[[email protected]]

46.

Hi! I am Sherik Butler and I am in Dr. Strange's EdM 310 class. I found your poetry delightful! I too find technology very motivating for students to use and an important tool they will need to know when they go out into the real world.

[Lauren]

47.

Helllooo. Another student from EDM 310, we are really enjoying your stuff! This rhyme is great, and some teachers make take it offensive, but you have to get the point across. Teachers who fail to bring themselves into the future are only keeping their students behind, and that should not even be allowed. The rest of society is moving into the future, and in order for our kids to succeed in their future, education can not afford to stay in the past.

Thank you for your words!

[Justin Scholes]

48.

I am an English Teaching major at Brigham Young University, and I think this poem is just what we need in the discussion of technology in the classroom. I especially appreciate the point: students will be behind in the world if their teachers don't use technology to complement the curriculum. Needless to say (though I will anyways), using technology will give students a leg up in a decade or two; teaching it well will give them a "big" leg up. It is time to move teachers beyond feeling good about themselves for being pro-technology and into exploring the range of opportunities--and limits--of what we have to work with.

[Chelsie Funderburg]

49.

I am a student of Dr. Strange at the University of South Alabama. I am in EDM 310, and am studying to become an elementary teacher. I love your post! I hope to help my students have a leg up for the future! Thanks for sharing!

Chelsie Funderburg
University of South Alabama

Check out my blog at funderburgchelsieedm310.blogspot.com

[Matthew McGee]

50.

I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at University of South Alabama. Our EDM 310 class blog can be found at http://www.edm310.blogspot.com/.

"Dont teach your kids this stuff. Please?" is a wonderfully written piece of work. The media's perception on technology is faulty in many ways. Yes, it can be used for mischievous purposes, but to deny your child the learning experiences technology has to offer is a crime. For those of you who think technology is ALL evil and refuse to allow your child to use these tools to better their education: They will eventually use technology.... It may be pushing the combo #6 button on their new McDonalds touch screen registers, even though I ordered a #4...but they will use technology.... And thats perfectly fine. Your child can serve my child his Big Mac with onions that he specifically said to take off.... I will not let my child suffer because of my ignorance!

[Brook McNair]

51.

I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at University of South Alabama. Our EDM 310 class blog can be found at http://www.edm310.blogspot.com/
"Don't teach your kids this stuff" is so good. I knew where you were going with it though, because everything you wrote is everything I want my children to know about. Great job!

[dvallas47]

52.

Hi I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. Whether we like it or not this technology is here to stay and we can either jump on board or fall behind.

[Holly Longenecker]

53.

I love it! sarcastically romantic! almost reminds me of e e cummings........
I appreciate that this poem was definitely written for the people who DEFINITELY needed to read it!!!
Dr. Strange has this peculiar way of making a huge impact on me with his assignment choices... Well done Scott!

[Mrs. V]

54.

Hilarious!

[stacyfox]

55.

I see where you were going with this, but I guess I disagree in some areas. Just because something isn't happening frequently, doesn't mean it wont happen to your child. I don't think that this means that you should have all kinds of blocks on your computers, but I still think you should keep a close eye on the child.

[Brittany South]

56.

Hey

I am a student edm310. I do see where you are coming from, but I really think that computer are the new thing. I do believe blocking certain things are reasonable. I will allow my kids to do things on the internet, but also keep a close eye on them.

[Cuong Do]

57.

Hi, I'm reading this for Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at South Alabama. Very intriguing poem. Could you imagine if that was really how parents felt about technology and their children? How worthless would the future of the planet look? Nobody would know how to get ANYTHING accomplished efficiently. Thankfully the world is not like that, and technology will be a part of evolution for years to come!

[Deborah Snowden]

58.

Hey there! I'm reading some of your blog form my EDM310 class with Dr. Strange at the University of South Alabama. I'll be reflecting on some of what you've said in my class blog at http://www.snowdendeborahedm310.blogspot.com if you want to take a look!

I love this poem, it really shows the fear that some parents and teachers exhibit when it comes to change and technology. But all of that fear is in vain because change comes anyway and in order for kids to grow up and be successful they need to be encouraged to learn more!