Interesting article, especially the observations of ´Mike´. I cannot help but wonder about the ´revisionist´ information that can be poured into little minds and subsequently spread to their elders.

However if you give a handheld or tablet to a kid in Chicago, he´ll sell it.

A physicist in India did a similar experiment in India back in 2000:

http://www.greenstar.org/butterflies/Hole-in-the-Wall.htm

I believe he wrote a book about it, but I can´t find the title.

I figure that the growth in Madrassas will include electronic technology.

It´s just possible that this guy is onto something. Imagine a child in a faraway land becoming entranced with the world of the Internet and the glimpses it provides of a different way of life.

Naturally, the child would like to explore further. But, in order to do that, you must know how to read. Thankfully, the device you have been given includes all sorts of fun learning games to teach yourself the alphabet. You have motivation and now, you have means.

Certain men and women of the past, similarly trapped in unpromising environments, educated themselves into a new life...and did so with arguably inferior resources than those utilized by the children referenced in this article.

#3, thanks. This is fascinating. I´m way past 16, and I´m afraid to experiment with my computer for fear of breaking something. The children must not have that fear.

#6, thanks for the laugh this morning.

My computer scares me too!!!

Don´t nobody tell the NEA.

The uber-wealthy of past generations built universities, hospitals and museums. The current crop fund PBS and hand out free computers.