On the ground, many schools are already well advanced in expanding their electronic horizons. Quarry Brae primary, in the city's Parkhead area, has a website and e-mail links with a school in South Dakota, plus others in Holland, Belgium, and Austria. Quarry Brae is part of a cluster of one secondary, six primary, and six nursery schools headed by Jim Dalziel, principal of Eastbank Academy in Shettleston. If an arrangement currently under negotiation goes through, some of those business people will be in Singapore. Youngsters are not allowed on to the web without parental permission, and so far there have been no refusals.
Parents know it's part of everyday life and employment.
We are providing them with an opportunity to compensate for that, and we have an obligation to make sure the children derive benefit from it. It's heartening to learn that all of this hi-tech does not necessarily mean people adapting to computers. Eastbank is also piloting distance learning by satellite for children of travelling families. EU-driven and sponsored by Philips, it will benefit around 20 pupils who spend part of their lives on the road.