Do you think it is a good thing for school kids to have access to internet inside their various schools?
As someone who teaches the students aged between 9 to 18, I hope that I can answer this question in a more correct way. Pardon me because this answer is going to be from an Indian point of view!
To those who would hate going through details, here is my conclusion "Yes it is a good thing!"
In my school, kids are not provided with an internet access. Nor are the schools all over the India. And off late, I have learned that the schools located in almost all of the developing nations are also following the same modus operandi in most!
I am tired of conveying my authorities of setting up a teaching model that imbibes the soul of 21st century. But it is highly impractical as they suggest as this new system must involve the active participation of parents which in most part seems highly unlikely!
Things must change with the change in time. Unlike the previous times, nowadays monopoly of knowledge is not with teachers. Anyone can learn anything from anywhere in the world provided they have a good access to the greatest invention of humankind ever- The INTERNET!
It is quite disturbing to see some teachers acting as if they are the only gateway towards knowledge and wisdom. They ask their students to do homework, mug up a poem and expect them always to be abide by their pointless orders. If you give a closer look at this act you can find the element of absurdity. This methodology doesn't fit the contemporary context. It is more like going back in time and teaching the 2010's kids of using stone based tools for their survival. Not to mention these kids will end up in confused state when they once get out of the school!
It is the duty of our society as a whole to impart in these kids the life skills needed in the years to come. Any method of teaching that completely neglects the technology would be of no use I swear.
In these days of technological advancements, the role of a human teacher in a formal class room is just secondary. He/ she must be more of a facilitator rather than venturing into acting as doyen of all sorts.
So the end word is a big "YES" and MUST!