In this issue of the CPSR Newsletter we focus on education. As computer professionals, we need to be concerned about what happens in education for two reasons. One is that technology is increasingly used as a tool in educational settings. The other is that education is essential in our increasingly technological society.

The articles in this newsletter focus largely on the ways in which technology is used in education and how it affects those involed teachers, students, institutions, and society as a whole. Even so, we've had to limit our focus to the learning that happens in schools, ignoring less formal educational settings, such as libraries, community centers, homes, workplaces, end Job training centers.

The articles cover topics that are receiving a lot of press today, but with a perspective, often critical, that is missing in the mainstream press. We've seen enough articles that get us excited about the tremendous potential that technology offers in the educational realm: .

CPSR's role, however, is to go beyond the hype, acting as a watchdog. So, in this newsletter, Michael Apple discussses how technology negatively affects the profession of teaching. In a brief report summarizing some current Internet-based projects, Philip Bell and I point out a few things that we need to watch out for when it comes to the use of the National Information Infrastructure

(NII) in education. Hank Bromley warns about how technology use in education can often reproduce inequities in society. For those who are hearing all about multimedia, Brian Harvey points out how, counter to what it may seem, multimedia can actually be very limiting. Christopher Hoadley and Sherry Hsi provide a counterpoint to Brian's article, but in doing so provide their own warnings about how educators need to approach this technology. Finally, Marsha Woodbury spells out both the benefits and costs of using computers in higher education.

Far from throwing our hands up in despair, however, there are plenty of things that CPSR members can do if we're concerned about education. As Mike Brand et al. stress in their article in this issue, it is urgent that we educate all our children, and this can only be done if we stop distributing educational resources so unfairly. CPSR/Berkeley's A Computer and Information Technologies Platform (1992) reads:

We reaffirm that quality education is a basic human right. We call for full funding for education through the university level to insure that everyone obtains the education they need to participate in and contribute to the "Information Age. " Education must remain a public resource. .. . The public education system must provide students with access to computers as well as the critical and analytical tools necessary to understand, evaluate and use new technologies.

Beyond the ever important goal of working towards equality, here are some specific suggestions for action, contributed by CPSR members Rick Crawford, Brian Harvey, Jeff Johnson, Aki Namioka, Marsha Woodbury, and BMUG member Gretchen Brewer:

Raise consciousness. Start by understanding the issues yourself. Read the articles in this newsletter, and other places. Always read critically! Don't let the media, politicians, administrators, or anyone else get away with promoting simplistic technological fixes to educational problems. Try to make sure that technology is used in responsible ways. Find out if your state has a statewide plan for technology, and try to influence its development. Write letters to the editor. Attend public school board meetings. Talk to parents and others in the community about your concerns.

Donate equipment to schools. There are organizations that will make sure your donated computer gets to a school that can use it. If you want to donate directly to your local school, don't get angry if your offer is rejected the school may not be able to make use of your particular computer because it's too old, because it is incompatible with equipment they already have, or because they're lacking the technical support to make use of it. It's often better to donate via an organization that matches equipment to needs. Some examples: Detwiler Foundation is working with the California Department of Education to place donated computers in schools. Call (619) 456-9045. In the San Francisco Bay Area, Computer Recycling Center (415-428-3700) takes donations of computers and peripherals and places them in educational settings.

Volunteer in a school or other learning institution. Oftentimes technology isn't used because teachers lack necessary support. There are a variety of levels at which you can offer to help, such as setting up equipment, advising on hardware and software purchases, providing ongoing technical support, or teaching students or teachers about technology with which you are familiar.

Right now, many classrooms need help getting on the Internet. Some states, including Texas, North Dakota, Virginia, Florida, and California, provide low-cost or free connections for schools, but often specific schools and teachers don't know about it, or how to take advantage of it.

Again, there are organizations that are great for matching up your technological skills with existing needs. Some examples: The CoNECT project, in the Boston area can use | volunteers at all levels of participation; volunteer coordination is being taken care of by Vivienne Begg of the ACM, who is also collecting names of volunteers who want to I work in schools outside the Boston area. Contact conect@musenet.bbn.com. Also, consider volunteering to help outside of schools. Check out the "Community Computer l Center" movement: read Peter Miller's article in the Fall 1993 issue of the CSPR/Newsletter (Volume 1 1, No. 3). (He's got a listing of Community Computing Centers nationwide.)

And don't overlook volunteering to use your non-technological skills. We need people to teach literacy more than we need people to teach computer literacy. Help students prepare for jobs. Visit the school and give a presentation on what your job is and what your company does. Invite students to visit your workplace. Set up partnerships between your company and a local school. Most valuable: take on apprentices; give a teenager an opportunity to do real work.

We all know the importance of education to society. Let's all do something about it.

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