A Message from Senator Edward M. Kennedy
Last year, a federal study ranked Massachusetts 48th in the nation based on the number of networked classrooms in our schools. In a state whose future prosperity depends on the skills of our workforce and the success of the knowledge-based industries that they make possible, this was unacceptable.
So in May of 1996, I called a meeting of concerned people -- educators, business and union leaders, government representatives -- and we created the Mass Networks Education Partnership as a non-profit, non-partisan effort to assist schools in getting wired to the Internet. We decided to sponsor a series of Mass NetDays to focus attention and resources on this effort.
Massachusetts has an advantage over many other states. Because of education reform, thousands of local teachers are looking for new learning tools such as computer technology. Our high tech business sector is strong and growing. Our unions have a long history of social involvement. Key people in our education system, from the Department of Education to District Superintendents and Principals, have been active and visionary.
Because of all this, we have had significant success. Over 700 schools have participated in the first two NetDays, including about half of the state’s public districts. Nearly 14,000 volunteers have spent time helping out, many of whom don’t have school-age children! The business community has donated over $14 million in discounted products, services, and other assistance -- including sending their own teams of volunteers to help "pull wires." In addition, MassNetworks has worked with dozens of education organizations to catalyze hundreds of teacher training opportunities so that our children get the maximum benefit from our collective investment.
Most impressively, the overall effort goes far beyond NetDay. All across the state, parents, children, teachers, labor leaders, businesspeople, public servants and those who care about children are working together to make sure that our children are properly prepared for the 21st century -- and that our state continues to be a world leader. We intend to make Massachusetts the first in the nation to meet President Clinton’s goal of connecting all of America’s schools to the Internet by the year 2000.
Education is one of the best investments we can make in the future of our state, and the Internet is one of the best forms our investment can take. It is the blackboard of the electronic age and we should be prepared to use it.
Ultimately, the strength of this effort comes not from computers and wire but from our commitment to create healthy communities that support schools’ efforts to revitalize the ways educators teach and students learn. I am confident that we will make the most of the tremendous opportunity that is at hand and I commend all those involved in this worthy effort.
Sponsored by MassNetworks Education
Partnership, Inc.
For more information, write to us at: netday@mtpc.org.
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Last updated: 6/2/97