I really despise high school students that can learn real computer skills in their school; part because my school's computer program is crap. Anybody can use the computer better than the computer teacher, and most of us don't even get a computer class.

The result? Half of my classmates doesn't know how to use Excel or Powerpoint. Most of them hardly know what Photoshop is. Technology is progressing at a really high rate, and it is becoming a big part of our lives. You're basically disabled if you can't use a computer. So why doesn't high school education put so focus into teaching the use of technology? Why wait until the college days?

I don't see any reason how a technology class would not enhance the traditional subjects. By learning more, we can enlarge our view and broaden our knowledge.

Maybe this is more social than technology lol.

Thank you!!! I'm not alone in the world of school technology stupidity. I agree, the most advanced thing that we have done in computer class this year was probably powerpoint. No one in my class has a clue what Photoshop is and wouldn't dare try to use it. I would be the only one who owns a website or even knows a web programming language. Some people need help logging out of a networked computer, and some just can't. (I have turned the computer *when it was in standby mode* and about 3-4 times this year the same person was still logged in, tend to doubt that person ever longs out.)

Well at my high school, we have 64 bit athlon prccessors, perfect for DVD's, Image editing, 3d Graphics/Animation, .net Programming, u name it...u know what all 40ish computers are used for, online games, it sucks...atleast some people ahv the sense to use them for their rightful purposes maybe 5 dvds/day and 2/graphics realted thingys, the rest is surfing the net...i am at my HOUSE now surfing on a thin client because i am at bording school....it is really slow and annoying, no CD drive, music etc. just surfing a dn typing...i suppose thats enough for any chemistry prep or history essays lol

Do you go to highschool or elementary? I know that my former elementary school still has crap computers. But in the highschool we 6 labs of top quality computers. Though we don't learn how to use Photoshop because the licensing is too expensive. So were stuck with Dreamweaver and Fireworks. I feel sorry for you if your school doesn't have industry standard computers. But don't worry, all post secondary schools have top of the line comps. So I guess you'll just have to wait till then or purchase one for yourself.

The computers at my school (P.V. High) are crap. We have Window XP Pro, but the computers are hardly fast enough to support it. In our "Computer Apps" class, only teaches Excel, Word, DB, and Publsiher. We only learn the basics, it's so stupid. People come into the class and do nothing. They learn nothing becuz the teachers half the time don't know what they're talking about. I've proved a teacher wrong before, and they got mad. I mean, I'm not teaching this class, they are.

At my prep school our technology fund was very high. They all used XP Pro and you had your own laptop. Most assignments are on the computer and our Spanish teachers didn't go a class without using a computer.

Now on the other hand, my old high school has very little in the technology fund. They have to go to a different school just to take classes regarding Photoshop or Macromedia. So it could be worse, just think about it.

I know, my school forces us to "learn the basics" AGAIN. Why do I want to review how to save a docunment when I have a couple hundred on my web site!!! I learned that stuff in elementry school, and they want me to do it again, when I can be found after school with my palm pilot tapping into the school's network on AIM. Wow.

I wish my school had some better computers, AND have some teachers in a computer class where I can actually LEARN. In my keyboarding apps class this past year, I didn't learn anything, except for how fast I can type! We used Word, that's it! Oh, and I've also had to deal with them telling us how to save documents EVERY YEAR! Our computers (Windows XP Professional) are also a piece of crap. Slow, messing up all the time, and some won't even start up right! I envy all of you who have a school with decent computers!

Schools with slow computers and low budget....please use *nix and hire a REAL IT expert with EXPERIENCE. (Not one of those certified it experts who know nothing). Windows XP Pro is total bloat, Microsoft Office is total bloat.....what more could there be bloat with the word microsoft on it?

Back to topic...there are worse schools that are beyond help...like my school. Last year we got top-of-the-chart computers...meaning Windows XP Pro on a 100MHz P1 computer with 28MB SDRAM.... seriously.....I wonder how they managed to get Windows XP Pro on it

And then our "IT Expert" woah....I knew everything better than him, heck, I even knew more than him and I'm not even half his age while I already knew it when I was 7 years old.

They should pay ME 20 USD an hour if they want to teach kids something, not some IT Expert that's certified and has no hands-on experience with whatsoever has to do with computers... the guy didn't even knew what unix stood for or what a kernel is....comeon man!

Btw, I'm 15

On another note...we had the BIT test (to choose out professions we will be able to get if we follow a specific course...) and the teacher comes to me and says I need to learn spanish, english, papiamentu and economics to become an IT expert....wtf?