Tech execs send kids to pricey anti-computer school

[RamboLiberal]

A recent story in the NY Times reveals that parents working at some of the best known Silicon Valley tech companies are sending their kids to a computer-free Waldorf elementary school in Los Altos, Calif.

Engineers and execs from Apple, eBay, Google, Hewlett-Packard and Yahoo are supporting this little nine-classroom utopia where tuition starts at $17,750 and where you won’t find a single computer or screen of any sort. Also, kids are discouraged from watching television or logging on at home.

Alan Eagle, who works in executive communications at Google and has a degree in computer science from Dartmouth, has a fifth grader who attends the school and he told the Times that she “doesn’t know how to use Google.”

The thinking is that technology interferes with creativity and young minds learn best through movement, hands-on tasks, and human-to-human interaction. Students at this school are gaining math, patterning, and problem-solving skills by knitting socks. They aren’t exposed to fractions through a computer program. Instead they learn about halves and quarters by cutting up food. Sounds a bit like summer camp? Well, yes, but parents in Los Altos and at over 150 similar schools across the country say the Waldorf method works and they’re sending their kids to top colleges, from Oberlin to Berkeley.

http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/2011/10/24/tech-execs-send-kids-to-anti-computer-school/

[woo me with science]

1. Wow.

Now that's interesting.

[BlueIris]

2. Sounds a bit like my elementary school. It was by no means anti-technology,

we did learn basic computer skills, but it did involve as much "hands on" learning as possible. And while not every child went on to go to places like Berkeley, most who went to college went the private, even elite route. Come to think of it, my sister, a fellow student at that elemenary, went to Berkeley (and has a Ph.D. now.)

[wickerwoman]

3. Is that any different than tobacco execs that don't let their six year olds smoke?

Not sure why this is supposed to be shocking news. You can design and promote technology and also recognise that it isn't good for young kids to have hours and hours of screentime.

You look at parents whose 11 year old daughters are stripping on myspace and think maybe these parents might be on to something.

[jtuck004]

4. But who has time to study history when

we can do fun things like auto repair and computer games, eh? Just abstain from sex and don't ask too many questions.

Now, turn your computer on using the switch. There is a picture of it in your workbook...