The United States has increasingly become a nation that
relies on digital technology for a wide assortment of things. Technology has crept into the daily lives of
citizens and has even impacted their job and scholastic performance. Currently, most jobs require individuals to
have a smart phone and reliable access to the internet. Most classes from as
early as elementary school require steady access to the internet in order for
students to complete assignments. The digital
divide in Memphis leaves lower-income families lagging behind their
counterparts. The U.S. Census American
Community Survey for 2013 reported that over 32% of Memphians have no access to
internet at all. The survey included
dial-up accounts and mobile device access in the survey. As of 2015, that
number was updated to about 24% of households recording that they did not have
a computer. While nearly 15% of household that reported owning a computer admitted
that their computers were not subscribed to an internet plan. Essentially, 39% of households in Memphis do
not have access to internet connection. The
city needs to do more to close this divide.
What is being done in the city of Memphis to combat this
issue? In 2011, Comcast implemented a
program that would allow households that qualify for free lunch in the public
school program to receive a packaged deal for internet access. Once allowed in the program known as Internet
Essentials, families could enroll into the program for $150. They would receive a computer and only had to
pay $9.95 per month after enrolling. As
of 2015, Comcast reported helping 4,000 families in the Memphis area. Presently, there are other programs in Memphis
that seek to encourage technological development in the bluff city. These programs include Code Crew, Cloud 901,
the Memphis Grizzlies Foundation, etc. Each of these programs seeks to empower
the youth of Memphis in order to bridge the gap of the digital divide. Individuals at http://www.zerogravitycommunity.com/
list a few ways that Memphis can close the gap.
I think it is crucial that Memphis finds a way to resolve the issue of the
digital divide. For young students
trying to complete assignments or thinking about their future, lack of internet
access can hinder their success. For
adults entering the work force, if they do not have internet access, they are
limited to jobs that still have a paper application process. Our world stays more connected through the
internet. If everyone does not have access to the internet, then that’s just
another section of the population we are distancing ourselves from. The digital divide will leave those individuals
without access to all of the possibilities in our society.
Raven, this is a huge issue that I think tends to be looked over because this day in age, technology is all around us, and we erringly presume that this technology is accessible to everyone. I'm curious if Memphis high schools have programs providing laptops to the students while they are still in school? That was a federal initiative set in my high school beginning my freshman year, and it was amazing. You pay a $50 fee once, and when you graduate you can pay another $100 and keep the laptop. my town is clearly much smaller than memphis, but i'm sure if the schools had more federal funding this could be a program that could really benefit memphis schools.
ReplyDeleteAccess to technology/the internet is by far one of the easiest was to provide opportunity for education and advancement in underprivileged communities. If you have the time/ interest please check out this article and video: http://money.cnn.com/2016/09/06/technology/india-reliance-jio-4g-internet/
ReplyDeleteIt details the efforts of India's richest individual to provide free internet access to over a billion people in India. He saw lack of access to the internet as the number one issue preventing rural and isolated communities from social and educational advancement. Asking the wealthy in America to provide the same kind of investment for the poor in America is probably wishful thinking. On a city wide or county wide level it may be more realistic. If Memphis could provide access at the most basic level for free to all it's citizen it could not only increase the potential for people to escape poverty but also attract new businesses and investors to the city. Libraries and schools can not be the only means to distribute access to global knowledge we need to find ways to get the internet into peoples homes so that even if they work difficult hours they can use their free time productively.
Raven, thank you for discussing this issue. I think it is something that is so often overlooked because our lives can, at times, be so consumed technology. It seems as though everywhere you look there is a new phone coming out or people are talking about how aerodynamic their laptops are. We then make the assumptions that everyone has the same privilege of having such easy access to resources such as this, when in reality this is not the case. I believe that people, specifically educators, need to be made more aware of the fact that there is a large population of students that do not have any internet access. Therefore, this should affect how they choose to run their classroom and administer assignments. By making small adjustments in the classroom, I believe that teachers could greatly enhance the education of those who may not always have internet access.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned in my blue prints for liberation, I believe it starts with libraries that offer free internet service. We should bus students of all ages to the library after school, and increase library hours so they are more accessible. As far as in the home, I believe it would fall on the city to try and implement free wifi either city wide, or just more public places.
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