School Computers

Re the article “NetDay2 Gives Students Access to the World,” Oct. 13:

As the parent of a school-age child, I do not believe that the presence of computers in classrooms will substantially improve our public schools. Computers are not substitutes for incompetent or unmotivated teachers and unchallenging curriculum. In most public schools, what passes for computer literacy is learning how to turn a computer on and off.

NetDay volunteers should be commended for their efforts to address the naive concern voiced by educators that students who do not have access to technology will not be ready for the next century. However, I would guess that most of these volunteers would agree that any literate person can learn to use a computer at any age. Reading well and the ability to follow directions are essential to using computers. Neither of these skills requires having access to computers to be learned.

HELEN FALLON

Venice