'Fool's gold' of school computers

Computers are narrowing children's horizons, say campaigners

Computers have become the "fool's gold" of the education system, claims a report from childcare experts in the United States.

Instead of raising standards, the "infatuation" with computers is jeopardising the healthy development of young children, claims the report from the Alliance for Childhood.

This organisation of educationalists and children's health professionals says that there is little evidence that the billions of dollars spent on educational technology has had any positive impact on children's learning.

Those who place their faith in technology to solve the problems of education should look more deeply into the needs of children

Alliance for Childhood report

And it argues that the pressure on young children to use computers can mean that they lose out on social skills, language development and physical exercise.

"Those who place their faith in technology to solve the problems of education should look more deeply into the needs of children," says the report.

The Alliance for Childhood claims that in the past five years $27bn has been spent in the United States schools on computer equipment - and it asks what benefits could have been reaped if the money had been spent on books, cutting class sizes or recruiting more teachers.

Isolating

Instead of playing games with each other and talking, the report says that young children are being pushed into an unhealthy and socially isolating use of computers.

The report, Fool's Gold: A Critical Look at Computers in Childhood, says that "computers pose serious health hazards to children. The risks include repetitive stress injuries, eyestrain, obesity, social isolation and for some, long-term physical, emotional or intellectual developmental damage".

"Children need stronger personal bonds with caring adults. Yet powerful technologies are distracting children and adults from each other."

The Alliance for Children is a pressure group which campaigns for the right of children to be able to play as well as work, grow at their own pace and have a healthy environment.