If you've heard of the Waldorf Schools you know that many do not use technology in the classrooms; there are about 160 Waldorf Schools in this country. Their educational philosophy is that technology inhibits creative thinking, human interaction and attention spans. They focus on teaching and learning with physical activity through hands-on creative tasks. These are private schools with relatively high annual tuitions. One school in particular, The Waldorf School of the Pennisula, is located in Silicon Valley, California. The students attending this school have parents who work at the likes of Google, Apple, Yahoo and Hewlett Packard. The schools prohibit computers in classrooms and even discourage the use of computers at home. Obviously, access to computers and the internet is not an issue at Waldorf of the Pennisula. Even without computers these students would enjoy the benefits of all that technology and the internet have to offer. In other words, they are still enrolled in the hidden curriculum.
What would be the net effect of public schools without computers and technology? The effect will be low performing schools with large numbers of students who are ill-prepared for college or the workforce. Technology can be the great equalizer in education and any attempt to eliminate or reduce access or availability should absolutely discouraged. For urban and rural students, technology can be a lifeline.
Students who attend schools like the Waldorf Schools typically come from privileged high income families who can afford to make school choices. These are also students who've had more than adequate pre-school education, well educated nannies, computers at home and exposure to many social activities. They do not face the kinds of social issues that many urban and rural students do.
By enrolling students in private schools, parents make an explicit admission that public schools are somehow inadequate but, arguably, part of the inadequacy is in fact a lack of technology and access. The irony of this is not lost. If you believe the Waldorf philosophy then you might also believe, among other things, that STEM education is wrong and Bill Gates has wasted money investing in school technology.
To read more, follow these links:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/technology/at-waldorf-school-in-silicon-valley-technology-can-wait.html?ref=gradingthedigitalschool
http://chicagowaldorfthunder.org/2011/12/01/technology-hinderance-or-help-to-creative-learning/
