U.S. Schools Falling Behind in Tech Use

Schools in the United States are falling behind society in the use of technology according to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Education. However, the report did find that virtually every school is connected to the Internet, and there is an average of one computer for every five students.

Education Secretary Rod Paige blames the resistance to technology by educators on lack of training and understanding.

"Education is the only business still debating the usefulness of technology," Paige said in the National Education Technology Plan, scheduled for release Friday. "Schools remain unchanged for the most part despite numerous reforms and increased investments in computers."

The report also contains several quotes from students who say they are taking notice of the technology gap. "I think that students should have laptops to do everything in class," one student says. "We should not have to carry heavy books all day long."

The report was created to fulfill a requirement of the No Child Left Behind Act, passed in 2002.