Who is Impacted?

 

People who grew up in needy areas are set up to fail with our system. Schools in these areas often are not equipped to support technology within the high schools forcing students into having a less advantage in college and in life. Typically, everything is done online, whether that be a paper or even sometimes classes. we here at Merrimack College all grew up around technology and a pretty good system where we were able to learn how technology works. However, some of America did not grow up like this. In turn this can impact the entire future through increased poverty rates and workers who don’t know how to perform checks. when a portion of America is not be able to go to college simply due to the technology struggles. This is not okay as everyone should be given an equal opportunity to succeed no matter where they grew up, went to high school or where their parents live.

 

What is at Stake?

 

The future of America is at stake with the issue of technology. Students will continue to suffer in lower income areas meaning they will not get equal opportunity to continue their education. Most will be forced to barely finish high school and go out to do something that does not require a college degree or most will drop out of high school and try to get a job from there. Everyone should be given an equal opportunity to succeed in America, as that is the American dream, we are all promised when our ancestors came here. It’s unfair that we are not able to get that for every single child in America. Without a general understanding of how to navigate technology this can make getting and retaining a job nearly impossible. Which increases the gap between the less fortunate and fortunate. Ultimately pushing the less fortunate further into a cycle of poverty that is hard to escape.

 

Why is now the time to act?

 

The time to act is now as technology is becoming more and more in our everyday life. There is not a day where technology is not used in most of America’s lives, especially in college and the work force. Everything is done online whether that be class finals projects anything it is all done via a computer Without these necessary, computer skills gain typically in the high school middle school elementary school level. These students will not succeed. Learning new skills can be very difficult, especially starting as an adult as technology grows and grows. We need to make sure our K through 12 system is also growing in technology. Most higher funded schools are able to do that however, we are leaving our lower income schools in the dust which is not fair. We need to do something to protect our futures for every child who grows up in a low come area as they deserve a chance at a successful future.

Dont believe me take it from the experts

 

• “Approximately 22% of low-income households with children lack home internet access”
• “It ill-equips students for the college admissions centered around tech”
• “students lacking digital access and skills face limited job prospects, even for entry-level positions that increasingly require tech fluency”

 

https://www.k12dive.com/news/digital-divide-households-children-no-internet/694596

https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/digital-divide-hits-college-admissions-process/2012

https://ctu.ieee.org/blog/2023/02/27/impact-of-the-digital-divide-economic-social-and-educational-consequences