Rhetorical Analysis Of The Computer Delusion By Todd Oppenheimer
“The Computer Delusion” by Todd Oppenheimer
Todd Oppenheimer, the author of “The Computer Delusion”, is a renowned investigative reporter. In this essay, he “argues that the tremendous emphasis on computers and technology in elementary and secondary schools, and especially in the lower grades, can actually decrease the effectiveness of learning and teaching” (255). Oppenheimer says that government programs are focusing more on bulking up the technological areas of public education rather than saving the basic fundamentals of a good education. He gives examples of real life situations where school districts have cut important programs such as art and physical education to make way for more computers. Oppenheimer also introduces situations …show more content…
He gives numerous examples of extreme situations in which school districts cut music and art programs to make way for computers: “The Kittridge Street Elementary School, in Los Angeles, killed its music program last year to hire a technology coordinator” (257). His use of numerous detailed examples and statistics makes it seem as though he does not expect his audience to have a very extensive background in the educational field. His fairly complex vocabulary, however, requires that his audience be fairly well educated themselves. It seems as though Oppenheimer is trying to shock his audience by using fairly extreme examples as the general media coverage has not been centered on these types of events. He wants to show his readers the extreme so they understand how large of a problem it could grow to become if no action is taken. Oppenheimer does not say that computers are not important in education, rather that they are taking the place of more important programs. Oppenheimer also makes a point that hands-on classes, such as shop classes are also being cut to make way for computers. He points out that “administrators are stuck in this idea that all kids will go to a four-year college and become a doctor or a lawyer, and that’s not true” (258). There are certain individuals who will never use a computer in their profession; therefore shop class is far more beneficial for them than any computer technology class. Oppenheimer is scared that important traditional areas of education have become increasingly endangered because they are the most
Todd Oppenheimer, the author of “The Computer Delusion”, is a renowned investigative reporter. In this essay, he “argues that the tremendous emphasis on computers and technology in elementary and secondary schools, and especially in the lower grades, can actually decrease the effectiveness of learning and teaching” (255). Oppenheimer says that government programs are focusing more on bulking up the technological areas of public education rather than saving the basic fundamentals of a good education. He gives examples of real life situations where school districts have cut important programs such as art and physical education to make way for more computers. Oppenheimer also introduces situations …show more content…
He gives numerous examples of extreme situations in which school districts cut music and art programs to make way for computers: “The Kittridge Street Elementary School, in Los Angeles, killed its music program last year to hire a technology coordinator” (257). His use of numerous detailed examples and statistics makes it seem as though he does not expect his audience to have a very extensive background in the educational field. His fairly complex vocabulary, however, requires that his audience be fairly well educated themselves. It seems as though Oppenheimer is trying to shock his audience by using fairly extreme examples as the general media coverage has not been centered on these types of events. He wants to show his readers the extreme so they understand how large of a problem it could grow to become if no action is taken. Oppenheimer does not say that computers are not important in education, rather that they are taking the place of more important programs. Oppenheimer also makes a point that hands-on classes, such as shop classes are also being cut to make way for computers. He points out that “administrators are stuck in this idea that all kids will go to a four-year college and become a doctor or a lawyer, and that’s not true” (258). There are certain individuals who will never use a computer in their profession; therefore shop class is far more beneficial for them than any computer technology class. Oppenheimer is scared that important traditional areas of education have become increasingly endangered because they are the most