We get to know the value of the Internet: it provides us with up-to-date information on all sorts of topics. Yet, some educational specialists point out the negative effect the Internet can bring to people, especially the young learners. 让我们听听教育家们是如何论述网络的弊端的。
Don't get caught up in the web
 All over the world, educational officials are encouraging schools to buy computers. In Britain for example, there is a move to give every British schoolchild an e-mail address, and to give every classroom access to the World Wide Web. However, some educational specialists point out that there is no evidence that computers in classrooms really do raise educational standards. Some even question whether access to the Internet is a good idea for young learners. They point out that it is common in the modern world to think that the latest technical gadget is worth having simply because it is new.
A simple way of looking at the Internet is to think of a vast library, picture gallery, museum, film collection, full colour advertising magazine, notice-board and music centre, to which we should add the vital feature individual interaction.
Given the first three items in this description--library, picture gallery, museum--it is natural to think of the Internet as a vast storehouse of valuable knowledge which learners can easily enter. They needn't even leave their classroom. Now imagine a library that contained works of the talentless as well as the talented, a picture gallery that exhibited everything from great works of art to childish scribbles, or a museum that contained rubbish as well as wonderful treasures. This vision is a good description of the Internet, a medium that has no quality control. Anyone can post anything on the World Wide Web, providing only that they have the rather limited resources and skills required. Contributions do not have to pass any kind of test: the Net has no editors.
As a result, those who do not know any better are likely to trust the Internet completely. To give young learners increased access, therefore, is a mixed blessing. It gives them cheap and easy access to a vast amount of material. But unless they are already educated to be discriminating, it is as likely to lead them into paths of ignorance as knowledge, to introduce them to foolishness as much as genuine understanding. There is no question that the Internet is a wonderful innovation, with many strengths and interesting features. But we need to distinguish the good from the bad. Looking to the Internet to provide such a mind in the first place is a serious mistake. |
教育专家们怀疑的3个观点：
1. Computers in the classroom can raise educational standards.电脑教学能够提高教学水平。
Educational specialists point out that there is no evidence to support this. Some even question whether it is a good idea to encourage young learners to have access to the Internet.
2. Internet is a vast storehouse of valuable knowledge. 网络是个巨大的知识宝库。
Educational specialists describe the Internet as a medium that has no quality control（质量监控） because anyone can post anything on the Internet. No editors will test their contributions. It is like a library that contains works of both the talentless and the talented, a picture gallery that exhibits both great works of art and childish scribbles, a museum that contains rubbish as well as wonderful treasures.
3. We should give young learners increased access to the Internet so that they can get a vast amount of materials. 我们应该增加年轻人接触网络的机会，让他们通过网络汲取大量的资料。
Educational specialists point out that this is a mixed blessing（好坏参半） because if the young learners are not educated to be discriminating (有辨别能力的), they may gain knowledge and genuine understanding, but at the same time they may be exposed to ignorance and foolishness as well.
通过这篇文章，我们也可以学到表述观点的一些常用句型：
Presenting an argument:
-- There is no evidence that ....
-- ... question whether it is a good idea that ....
-- They point out that it is common ....
-- It is natural to think ....
-- ... do not have to ....
-- As a result, ... are likely to ....
-- Unless ..., it is likely ....
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