Technology in the Classroom

Throughout the course of this semester we have talked a lot about the importance and the presence of technology in the classroom. As i have continued to think about the increase in technology this day in age the more i am tempted to argue against the use of technology in schools. Obviously computers are here to stay and there is no escaping that, however i do not feel as though we, as future educators need to be necessarily concerned about catering to the technological needs of America's youth. Obviously young people use and will continue to use technology for all sorts of purposes, perhaps schools should focus more on being an outlet for kids to be more technologically hands off. The fact of the matter is that the technology of today is over simplifying tasks that were once thought to be common sense. Again, technology is going to used at great length by young people all over the world, does a place of education really need to further its use?
My other concern with an increase in technology in the classroom means that children will be exposed to even more advertisements. We are a nation of consumption and living beyond our means and over exposing our youth to technology is only going to further this dilemma. Truth is that it is impossible to open any web page without being bombarded with pop ups and advertisements for any kind of material items. This problem first arose in schools with the installation of channel one news. This is a news program geared to kids in school. The catch is, channel one news will provide your school with TVs and all sorts of technology as long as the school agrees to air their program at some point to students during the school day. Having had channel one all throughout junior and senior high i slowly began to realize advertisements and commercials make up about half of the fifteen minute program. i find channel one very suspect and see it as the foundation of the use of technology in our schools in order to pump kids full of advertisements even while they are at school.
I recently read the book Feed by MT Anderson. it is an apocalyptic novel about how corporations infect the minds of people all over the world, constantly advertising for current things that kids think are cool. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who disagrees with this blog entry.