I Told You So

I don't allow The Goobers on the computer.  They don't play games, they don't use email, they don't do research and they don't use the word processor.  There are no computers in our classroom.  It wasn't always this way.  We used Rosetta Stone and they played Zoo Tycoon, and they emailed their friends and looked up the scientific name for the hippopotamus on Google. JellyMan even started a typing program.  In other words, they were almost normal.  Don't worry; I saved them.

Google was first to go.  I got tired of having to sit with them while they poked around online, because after all, we already have all the information they could possibly need - in books!  Use the index, Goobers!  Grab an encyclopedia!  I'm busy over here!

Email was next on the list.  It encouraged lazy thinking, sloppy sentence structure, spotty grammar and the total disregard of punctuation and capitalization, and I just couldn't get behind something so detrimental to their writing.  It wasn't just my Goobers, either; the kids they were emailing were obviously having the same trouble.  When Anemone received an emotionally manipulative chain email, it was easy for me to cut the cord.  They can write all the letters they want.  They haven't received any replies, but that's life in the electronic age.

I uninstalled Zoo Tycoon when I realized it was the reason my photo editing software was so agonizingly slow.  That was it for the computer games.

We stopped studying Spanish, so that was the end of Rosetta Stone. 

All that's left to them is the word processor, and since they don't type it's easier for them to write their essays on paper.  And let's face it, they need the penmanship practice!  Many people have told me that my Goobs will be hindered later in life by not knowing how to use a word processor.  Come on!  How long does it take a person of normal intelligence to learn how to use a word processor?  It's fairly straightforward, you know.

My Goobers are not allowed to use calculators, either.  After all, Newton (and that other guy nobody ever remembers) invented calculus without calculators, and generations of students managed to learn calculus without calculators.  Why should my Goobs have to use a crutch?  This has caused some problems for me, as I have had to teach them how to find square roots (and cube roots are coming up fast) manually.  Such things are not taught in today's math books - at least, not in the ones we use.

Anemone didn't mind the the switch to a computer-free lifestyle, but JellyMan greatly resented the fact that "everybody but him" uses fancy calculators to do their equations for them.  He couldn't understand why "everybody but him" is allowed to email and instant message.  Then one day I checked out a book called High Tech Heretic: Why Computers Don't Belong in the Classroom and Other Reflections by a Computer Contrarian by Clifford Stoll.  (Not many people agree with me on this issue in real life, and sometimes I need a little bit of encouragement!)  JellyMan picked it up before I had time to read it, fully expecting to rip the guy's pathetic arguments to shreds with his newfound logic skills, but as he got deeper and deeper into the book he started making small appreciative noises to himself, and eventually those appreciative noises became words like, "Oh!" and, "That makes a lot of sense."  Finally he came to me and said, "Mom, you are right not to let us use computers."

And I, being who I am, replied, "I told you so."  Of course, I also went on to say something like, "Why do you not believe me when I say it, but it makes total sense when some stranger writes it in a book?  Huh?  Answer me that, JellyMan!"  At thirteen years old, the boy is still convinced that if it is in print, it is true.  One of these days I will break him of that mindset.  I hope.

I don't expect to keep The Goobers away from computers forever.  In fact, I very much want them to use and understand computers, but I want them to use them as tools, not as unusually expensive toys.  To that end, The Man and I have promised each Goober a fabulous new laptop (along with some sort of computer instruction) just as soon as they finish calculus. 

Comments

[MNKristy]

Wow! That's impressive. Crazy, but impressive.

[Lisa]

Every family has to do what works for them. You and your husband have agreed on a standard for your house. You have very bright well adjusted kids. I have lots of friends who don't let thier kids use the computer or play video games. A lot of times I just clam up when people tell me this because although I think it is honorable I personally don't think it is dishonorable to hold another opinon. Part of me felt like I should feel bad for letting my kids use the computer. But the more I think about it the more I feel like, for my kids , it really has been a good thing.
My husband and I like technology and encourage our kids use it as a tool. The computer has provided some wonderful opportunities for my kids.
There is good and bad in everything. We believe we are doing what is right for our kids. I had a giant wall of text comment but I’ll spare you and post it on my blog. (Yes it was longer than this LOL)

Now the real question, would you allow your kids to be my kids pen-pals ? =)

[Melanie]

Nah, you shouldn't feel bad about it all. I say that, but then we all have that mom guilt, right? Sometimes I feel bad that I let mine play video games and watch questionable movies and read iffy books, especially when new friends come over and it turns out the kids aren't allowed to touch anything in my house. LOL I am not stridently anti-technology. JM will probably end up taking distance courses online (after calculus, which he'll complete his sophomore year if all goes well) and one of their high school projects will be to design a website. The kids even had blogs for a little while - I was hoping it would encourage them to write more, but I ended up paying $8 a month for dead space so we took them down. So believe me, I am NOT judging other families here. I'm just saying what we do, because this blog is all about us. LOL

And if my Goobs are at all like The Man and me, there is a very good chance they will rebel at 14 and refuse to take calculus. Then I might have to rethink this whole no-computer thing! That's actually one of the reasons we have tried to keep them a year or two ahead of the game - I'd like them to learn as much as they can before they decide school is dumb and run off and get married and join the circus.

And of course I'd allow my kids be pen pals with yours!

[Donna]

I marvel at the differences in moms. That's funny about other kids not being allowed to touch anything in your house. That's when you don't question yourself. =)

[Lisa]

Thanks Melanie. Yes and today I'm feeling punchy. Sorry. You didn't even point out all my typos and spelling errors which are obviously due to my television watching as a kid. You are so cool! I think you are doing absolutely everything right for your kids my wall of text included my kid's interests and how computer works to help them. But I'm going to spare the world this at this point.
You put a barre in for your ballet girl and have the most awesome art projects. That is incredible that JM will be doing calculus as a sophmore! The fact that he picked up and read the book shows you are reading by example and your kids pick it up. We did a little bit of Latin with the Roots up book but we don't do it now. I don't think I will ever have a calculus textbook but you never know? I think you and your husband are doing a wonderful job. Show Off! I'm just green a day late for Earth Day.

[Michelle]

i cant stand it when people dont use proper grammer when typing on the computer im notsaying i use proper grammer all the time it just bugs me.

I won't let my kids use email, chat rooms, or anything else. The computer has come in handy with some school work, but not much.

Once when Sir Son was asking for help with his calculator, we got highly upset and told him he couldn't use it. He can do his math homework without it. Turns out they were at a section in the book that was teaching them how to use the calculator. LOL

[muralimanohar]

Well, we are a technologically driven family here...though, if I had my way, we would be a little less than we currently are. But the dh undermines me on that one. :sigh: That said, my kids aren't allowed to randomly google, they are banned from their own email addresses, and I stridently discourage the use of a calculator in math. Though...have to admit...being a 36yo woman, as I currently am, who can't fully use a calculator properly, because my mom was the same, is pretty embarrassing at times. So, I do slack off, and let the occasional lesson slip through. :p