From: LWEEDEN@auvm.american.edu (Laureen Weeden)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.ethics-l
Subject: (no subject given)
Date: 6 Nov 92 22:17:00 GMT
Organization: The American University - University Computing Center

Subject: Computers, Children, and Ethics

I asked for the original question regarding computers and ethics where children
are concerned, but never got an answer.  I have been following the discussion
for a week, and I think that I can figure out what is going on.  Here goes...

I think that we may have two separate issues here:  Children using computers
and Using computers and ethics.  I don't think that they are two completely
different issues, but I think better defining lines need to be made.  We need
to get away from the poor school system for a little bit.  One thing I would
like to add:  I do not have any children, but I am concerned with what the
future has in store for the children growing up today.

I would like to start by saying that, well, I thought that what computers, at
the elementary school level, were used strictly for teaching purposes, as
teaching aids for the teachers to use to teach the children in the class.  The
children interact with the computers with programs such as math, entering the
correct number for an answer and a song will play, reading, recognizing words
and even learning how to play music.  When I think of ethics, I don't associate
it  with computer use at such an early age.  Unless what is meant by ethics is
teaching children to respect computers,  not to treat them like their toys at
home, not to stick credit cards in the disk drives.  When we attack the use of
computers in schools, we must realize that we are attacking an aspect that has
become an extremely important part of our societies future.  It has become
important to start teaching children ABOUT this amazing tool, the computer, and
how to USE it.  I think it would be a shame to deprive a child of learning
about computers.  But it is a parent's choice to decide if their child will or
will not learn how to use them.  One question:  Will a parent send their child
to another school if they are that adamant about not using a computer?

Regarding ethics:  I went to a Catholic elementary school.  The common thought
is that Catholic schools teach the full realm of ethics and morals.  But, I
did not encounter that.  Most teachers just help to teach what is right and
wrong for a child to function in society.  If a teachers tries to impress moral
issues on a child, maybe they are overstepping thier bounds.  That is where the
parents come in.  I think that it is becoming more important for parents to
participate in their childrens development.  I am not implying that they don't.
What I mean is that parent's need to talk to their kids about their school day.
Not just what they learned, but how the day went, ask how the child feels about
the day.  This may seem a little heavy, but children will answer.  Some kids
are not so easy to reach and they may need a little more attention.

Raising children is much different than it used to be.  In the past, at least
one parent was around all day, especially when the children came home from
school.  We didn't really need to rely so much on teachers teaching our kids
about ethics.  And, as far as we know, most people had the same ideas about our
children should be raised and they may even had the same ideas about morals and
ethics.  It was much simpler back then.  Today, it is usually necessary for
both parents to work and no one is around when the kids come home from school.
We have come to rely more on teachers to teach our kids about ethics.

One thing that we need to stop to consider is that, are our kids forming their
moral ideas around the behavior of their teachers, or are they forming them
around the morals and ethics of their friends?  Most kids don't want to be like
their teachers, they are figures of authority.  Who wants to be the bad guy,
like a teacher?

We need to stop blaming the teachers, they are the victims of a poor school
system, too.  I believe in my heart that there really are some great teachers
out there who really care.  But they can only do what they can under such poor
teaching conditions.  The teaching of morals is really a team effort between
the teachers, the parents and even the child's friends.

Back to the ethics and computing issue.  How can we expect to teach our
children about the ethics of using a computer, and by that I mean such things
as the network, when we, as adults, still have yet to figure out EXACTLY what
we mean by ethical behavior?



 Laureen Weeden
 American University
 Washington, DC
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU