Re: [school-discuss] email client for children?

[email.listen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Am Fri, 7. April 2006 19:45 schrieb Michael Dean:
> Phil Driscoll wrote:
> > I'd reinforce Miles's Squirrelmail suggestion. Not only is it easy to
> > 'skin', it's also fairly easy (if you are into hacking PHP) to write a
> > plugin to disable features you don't want the kids to access. If you have
> > some way of mapping kid's email addresses onto school year or age, you
> > could also automatically reveal more user interface as the kids get
> > older.
>
> Could someone explain to me the efficacy of providing email service to
> elementary students?  As the father of an elementary student, I would
> refuse him that service as unnecessary and actually perhaps antithetical
> to his academic achievement.

IMO I don't think that you should expect any 'efficacy' for young children 
which are short after kindergarden at all.

But it might be of interest under aspects of socialisation by exercise oneself 
in comunication. Also younger children might profit from getting in contact 
to others who live in other countries. At least there are several countries 
where english is spoken. (A lot more than countries where people tend to 
speak 'exotic' languages as frysk :)

But you are right, it might be preferable to learn other skills than theese in 
this age. This also because preschool kids tend to be more haptic orientated 
than in the age of ten or older. So at least in my experience it is much 
easier to motivate preschool kids by having a walk through the woods 
exploring the local 'wildlife'.

On the other hand I wouldn't say that this is 'antiethical to academical 
achievments'. I myself wouldn't even think of 'academical achievements' for 
kids of this age. The term 'academic' implies being an university student to 
me. But may be I didn't understand a special meaning of 'academical 
achivements' due to my bad english. :-))

So in the end to my point of view I would like to rate the efficacy of using 
email and talking about an 'academic achievement' all the same, very close to 
0.

regards,
Thomas