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[Carrie McLaren <stayfree AT metalab.unc.edu>]

As we make our way through the new millenium, it's time to stop and
seriously consider who we would rather have overtake the planet: robots or
monkeys. Obviously robots have the edge, particularly after the recent loss
of Miss Waldron's Red Colobus (a large West African monkey) to extinction.
But there are signs that a monkey victory is not out of the question. Last
week saw not one but two attacks by our fellow primates on the
international roadways:


(AP) Three monkeys hurl bananas and crab apples at cars (and a cop) on
Interstate 95, then flee into the woods.
http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/09/21/monkey.attack.ap/index.html


An army of angry monkeys surrounded a baby monkey hit by a car on a busy
road in northeastern India, bringing traffic to a dead halt, witnesses say.
(from Agence France Presse)
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/public/angry_monkeys.html


Skeptics will say that a monkey victory is unrealistic, so I guess I should
say that the real source of my optimism lies elsewhere, in the
as-of-yet-unapproved NYC Board of Education's "Learning in Cyberspace"
business plan. I'm not really sure how to explain it but trust me -- if you
all could read this plan, you'd be hoping for a monkey rebellion, too.

For the past year, the NYC Board of Ed has been working with Anderson
Consulting, IBM, Compac, and others on a for-profit deal to will fully
integrate technology into the public school curriculum. Fourth graders get
laptops, the companies, a captive audience for e-commerce, co-branding, and
targeted marketing opportunities. The plan promises to shift NYC schools
away from "Conventional Instruction" which it describes as "Teacher
directed" to "Reform Instruction" characterized by "Student exploration"
with "Teachers as facilitator."

The Board of Ed claims that the student Education Zone will be
"commercialfree" and yet the plan is loaded with charts calculating NYC
students' "lifetime customer value." And the curriculum? In the new Reform
model, it's known as "content," the quality of which is guaged by
"stickiness."

From everything I've read, fourth-graders would be better off watching the
Chimp Channel than doing homework under the proposed plan. Last week's
cover story for US News & Report, "Why Computers Fail As Teachers," even
cited child experts saying as much, arguing that kids 7 and under are
probably better off watching TV than playing computer.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/000925/nycu/computers.htm


Which reminds me, for an EXCELLENT critique of computer use in early
education, see "The Computer Delusion" from Atlantic Monthly
http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/97jul/computer.htm


For fear of boring everyone not in New York (and besides, I want to go
watch LA Confidential...) , I'll spare you the details of the New York
plan, some of which you can find in this less-than-stellar Village Voice
column:
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0032/murphy.shtml


However, those curious to know more should email me and I'll gladly add you
to our "action" list. Also please:

--> Call School Board President William C. Thompson, Jr. at (718) 935-3300
and tell him you want to know more about this "Cyberspace" Deal! Let him
know your concerns about the commercialism of education. Demand full public
hearings and ask that approval of the business plan be delayed until the
public can give feedback.

--> Come to these School Board meetings
(110 Livingston in Brooklyn):
* Wed. Sept. 27, 1-3 p.m.
* Wed. Oct. 18, 6 p.m.


- - - - - - -

LINKS OF THE MOMENT


Pepsi has been classified alongside bombs, knives and other dangerous
weapons by officials at the main Olympic Park venue in Sydney.
http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/sport/story/0,3604,369810,00.html

Post something worthwhile on Stay Free!'s bulletin board:
http://discserver.snap.com/Indices/113575.html


bye,
carrie