Information Technology and Children

Dr. Shakeel Ahmed Raina
Of course the information technology has revolutionalised the world. It has converted this big globe in to a small global village. Transparency and efficiency is being doubled and re doubled after every minute due to it. The small mobile in your hand means a biggest library of the world is in your hand, most efficient and fast post office is in your hand, calculating machine is in your hand and you are well connected with the world. It is great facilitator and helper. It is an admitted fact that invention of Computer is biggest invention of human brain. Today if we consider two questions, (1) list the works which are done by computer and (2) list the works which are not done by the computer. Surely the reply of the former question will be bigger than the reply of the latter. Inspite of this I suggest here that children atleast upto 10th class should not be encouraged for use of information technology devices.
There are maximum chances that the children will be spoiled when they are allowed to use computers in early classes up to 10th. It has been seen that children who spent most of the time in just playing games and watching of different CDs when they operate computers. Social networking facebook etc are also consuming lot of their time and energy. Availability of internet connection on mobile phones is also very harmful because they can make negative use of it. Initially television was the only main source of entertainment and information and of course it was less harmful for the children as they watch it mostly in presence of their parents and hence watching of immoral programmes was restricted to some extent. Moreover only landlines telephones wear also a controlled source of connectivity. The availability of mobile phones with children is an uncontrolled source of entertainment and connectivity with them. Due to their immaturity they are making excess and negative use of it and hence spoiling their career by sparing less time for their study.
I think the stage of education up to 10th class is most important. During this period the students should spend their maximum energy in making their hand writing, learning of writing skill, learning of pronunciation, doing of mathematics and try their best to grasp as much bookish knowledge as possible. Any weakness of student in these things will not be improved easily in future and he/she will always feel that his foundation is weak. Gandhiji wrote in his autobiography, “I do not know whence I got the notion that good handwriting was not a necessary part of education, but I retained it unit I went to England. When later, especially in South Africa, I saw the beautiful handwriting of lawyers and young men born and educated in South Africa, I was ashamed of myself and repented of my neglect. I saw that bad handwriting should be regarded as a sign of an imperfect education. I tried later to improve mine, but it was too late. I could never repair the neglect of my youth. Let every young man and woman be warned by my example, and understand that good handwriting is a necessary part of education”.
At present it is seen that some brilliant students are not showing good performance in examinations inspite of having very good I.Q. What is the reason for it? In my opinion students are not giving sufficient time to their study because of availability of computers, T.V., Mobile etc with them. Some times 8th class students are seen online on social net work through out the night.
Hence children should avoid information technology devices and parent should keep strict vigil on their children so that they may not be spoiled by this modern technology. We know strong nation depends upon its strong, morally upright, brilliant, honest and dedicated young generation, hence we all should try our best to protect our this asset from any type of destruction.
(The author is Associate Professor and HOD Mathematics at Govt. Degree College ThannaMandi)

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