| Everyone knows that our world cannot exist without | | | | him with a tree branch. Think how much better our |
| computers. Ever tried to make a purchase at a | | | | world would be now.The best present any graduate |
| convenience store when their computers are down, | | | | can get this June is a desktop computer or a laptop. In |
| ever waited for someone to make change when their | | | | my day, girls were given matching luggage to take |
| register computer is down, or have you ever tried to | | | | their clothes to school. Yes, I know I am dating myself, |
| find a book in a library when the system is down? If | | | | but I do have a point. Today buy your child a computer |
| you have ever experienced one of these | | | | and let them take their clothes is a paper sack. They |
| inconveniences, you know that our world hinges on | | | | don't care; an old gym bag will do. I know; schools have |
| whether or not our computers are working.Remember | | | | computer labs, but they are always full. Wouldn't you |
| when you told your teacher that the dog ate your | | | | rather your son or particularly your daughter not be out |
| homework? Did she believe you? Probably not. Now | | | | of the dorm or apartment working on projects or |
| the excuse is my computer crashed, my printer | | | | papers? Also, when your newly graduated senior has |
| wouldn't print, or we were out of ink. Even kids rely on | | | | moved away to school, e-mail will become your best |
| computers to do their schoolwork. The days of pen | | | | friend. Even if you hate computers, you will learn to |
| and pencils are almost over. In fact most students | | | | love them because they will become your link to your |
| know more about computers than their teachers or | | | | child. The nest will never be empty as long as you |
| parents. They don't even remember a time without | | | | have e-mail.Computers are links to the outside world. |
| computers.As computers become more and more | | | | The world has never been more accessible or smaller. |
| intuitive and powerful, we must proceed with them. If | | | | You have to keep up or you will be left behind and |
| you are still among the population that resents the | | | | who wants to be the last straggler on the planet? Not |
| encroachment of the computer, think about this | | | | me!After years as an educator and more degrees |
| scenario. If Eve in the Garden of Eden had access to | | | | than she can count, Frances Coleman now writes |
| the Internet, she could have looked up information | | | | professionally. She is a prolific reader with an |
| about snakes. She would have found out that they | | | | advanced degree in research techniques. See her |
| have forked tongues and an evil reputation. Instead of | | | | review of notebook computers. |
| listening to the snake's lies, she would have thrashed | | | | |