[Air-l] India Rejects One Laptop Per Child

[J. J.]

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 at gmail.com>
>Reply-To: air-l at listserv.aoir.org
>To: air-l at 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:
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