Digital Divide

I think the Digital Divide is a real thing and as the gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" grows larger than it has ever been, this is an issue that really needs to be solved in short order. As we continue to see growth in the income inequality in the United States, there is a true need for internet for everybody. In school districts such as Coachella Valley, having access to the internet means having access to resources such as research and books that they might not otherwise have access to. Superintendent Darryl Adams states that over 95% of the students live below the poverty line and many cannot afford internet at home. This begins a domino effect that sets the students up for failure. The school may not be able to attract teachers, and due to low test scores the school may not have access to state funds meaning that their materials and resources (e.g. textbooks) cannot be kept up to date, meaning that the students are not receiving the level of education that a wealthier school district receives.

It is also important to note that Adams states a majority of the student body is Hispanic, so there is no way we can talk about the Digital Divide without also addressing the issues of race inequality in the United States. Given the current tension in our country surrounding race relations, I don't want to pile on, but some white Americans that I know have stated that all Americans are on a level playing field regardless of race or where you were born. Educational studies and stories like the one about Coachella Valley clearly show that is not the case. Simply because these students happened to be born in a rural and poorer area of the country should not mean that they have any less opportunity as anyone else, but the facts show that they DO have fewer opportunities. Adams' innovation of mobile Wi-Fi hotspots using busses does seems to be working to close the gap, however, as the graduation rate in Coachella Valley is up 8%.

Why should we care about the Digital Divide? Well, there is a strong link between digital access and income and race inequality in our country. This alone should be motivation enough for Americans to want to close the digital gap. The American Dream is the ideal that equality of opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved. Greater opportunity should not be afforded to you simply because you were privileged enough to have been born in a particular county or a particular color or race. So if we have any hope of maintaining the ideal of the American Dream, we need to close the Digital Divide. Otherwise it is just words without meaning.