Why did the role of computers dwindle so much in U.S. Schools?

Question

I was born in the early 80s, by the time I got to kindergarten I was using DOS based math/science programs which were cartoonish of course but we were taught to load them ourselves -- at 5 years old, by the time i reached 3rd grade we were learning IBM-Basic. This was all in two regular new york city public schools.

However I noticed that by high school and even a few years back in college, the role of a computer was pretty much a typewriter and to a greater extent an encyplopedia. I've asked my nephew who's currently 7 years old what he does on the computer's at school and he tells me 'we play with it' -- both him and his middle school aged sister have a hard time with basic math and reading, the two skills public schools said would improve by having computers in the classroom.

Even my mother who was in college in the late 70s was obligated to take RPG progamming and Computer Science Theory, which had nothing to do with her major.

What happened?

Answer 1

Things changed. What we experienced was IT revolution.

Like we need to know a language to learn anything today, same way, we need to know computers to learn or do anything today. Right from a doctor to a clerk, everyone need to have basic proficiency in Computers. The IT Rev has changed the way we used to work, communicate and live.

HIH