Statements on Educational Technology

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Statements on Educational Technology

The President:

President Clinton, from his 1996 State of the Union Address: "In our schools, every classroom in America must be connected to the information superhighway, with computers and good software, and well-trained teachers. We are working with the telecommunications industry, educators and parents to connect 20 percent of California's classrooms this spring, and every classroom and every library in the entire United States by the year 2000. I ask Congress to support this educational technology initiative so that we can make sure this national partnership succeeds."

The President announces his Technology Learning Challenge Grants, the Tech Corps, and the American Technology Honor Society, October 10th, 1995

The President's remarks on Educational Technology and Connecting Classrooms September 21st, 1995 in San Francisco, California

Here are its guiding principles: modern computers in every classroom, accessible to every student from kindergarten to 12th grade; networks that connect students to other students, schools to other schools, and both to the world outside; educational software that is worthy of our children and their best aspirations; and finally teachers with the training and the assistance they need to make the most of these new technologies."

Sun Microsystems is organizing a coalition of companies volunteering for NetDay, an effort to install networks in at least 2,000 schools. And the number is growing with each new company joining the effort.

In the morning, volunteers will arrive at each school. By noon they will have wired the library, the labs, the classrooms. By nightfall those schools will have the technology they deserve.

What we are doing is the equivalent of going to a dusty adobe settlement in early 19th century California and giving every child a slate and a piece of chalk.

This is an enormous effort. It will take the same spirit and tenacity that built our railroads and highways. It will take the leadership and dedication of groups like the advisory council I've appointed on the information superhighway. So let us begin. Let today mark the start of our mission to connect every school in America by the year 2000. If we can connect 20% of the schools in the largest state in the nation in less than a year, we can surely connect the rest of the country by the end of the decade.

The Vice President:

Well, today we are in the midst of another revolution. Whether we call it the information revolution or the technology revolution or the digital revolution: the fact remains that the new tools becoming available are now rapidly changing the way we work, the way we teach, and the way we learn. In short, technology is revolutionizing our lives, our society, and our world. And we simply cannot afford to sleep through this revolution.

Send us your suggestions and ideas on how we can bring our classrooms into the information age. EMail: (etech@doc.gov)

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