The year was 1990. My grade 6 class lined up noisily outside Room 201; the girls discussing in detail exactly why Joey McIntyre was hotter than Jordan Knight (it’s the eyes!); the boys trading juvenile insults they had heard on The Simpsons the night before. Our teacher hushed us with an annoyed glance, and we quieted instantly, for fear of the dreaded detention – or worse, 100 lines.
I will not cause a disturbance in the school hallways before class.
I will not cause a disturbance in the school hallways before class.
I will not cause a disturbance in the school hallways before class.
I will not cause a disturbance in the school hallways before class.
The door opened and Mr. W, the intermediate gym teacher – and now the computer lab supervisor – beckoned us into the classroom. Desks were arranged in a “U” along the perimeter of the room; on every other desk, a personal computer. (And at any given time, at least two with an “Out of Order” signed taped to the monitor.)
“Pair up!” Mrs. B declared. “Find a partner and take turns using the word processing program.” I sighed as I realized that my regular computer lab partner was ill, so I’d have to team up with Frank. Yeah, him – he thought he was so cool because he had a computer at home – the only student in the class lucky enough to lay claim to one. So, he typed with a vengeance, attacking the keys with his two index fingers at an alarming speed of 22 words per minute.
I slumped down beside him as he double-clicked on WordPerfect 5.1, the only program loaded on the computer aside from Paintbrush. Click, click, clickity click… I looked at the clock on the wall, willing the minute-hand to fast forward to 3:30pm. I hated computer lab. When would I ever have a need to type out random sentences on a big white box?
Those are my first memories of using a computer. Looking back, I realize that my elementary school’s “computer lab” – a old lunchroom that had been re-purposed as IBM central – was nothing more than a collection of out-of-date machines that had likely once belonged in a bank or customs department. And, our sole purpose for using the PC was to learn how to type. (Because hey, us girls would all grow up to be fine secretaries.)
That was 1990. And today, while little girls can be anything their little hearts desire, sadly, the computer lab situation in elementary and high schools still has its share of challenges….