MY generation was the first to grow up with television -- a one-way, passive medium. Today's crop of kids is growing up with computers, e-mail and the Web -- two-way, active communication. Put the newspaper online and they talk to you. What do they say? Well, a lot of them place orders. Readin’, ritin’ and
e-mailin’There's Amanda, a charming eighth grader who wants us to mail a copy of the newspaper for her report on ''your wonderfull (sic) state.'' And there's Rachelle, who says, ''I am researching the benefits of Kindergarten, and whether a child truly needs to attend. Could you please send me your thoughts?''
Another student wrote, ''I was wondering if you had any articles relating to diversity in Hawaii. I have to write about how diversity is important to society in my Freshmen English class.'' Gee, in my day we looked stuff up.
Kids aren't as pushy as parents. One mom wrote: ''I was wondering if it would be at all possible for me to get a hold of a copy of all of the girls varsity basketball scores from 1996?'' No job too big; no job too small, we used to say.
OK, we'll get right on it as soon as we finish with this one: ''Aloha! My son is working on a school project and needs the daily weather data for the month of September. Specifically he needs the precipitation, high and low temperature, and wind velocity for each day.''
Sure. Would you like that in Fahrenheit or centigrade?
John Flanagan is editor and publisher of the Star-Bulletin.
To reach him call 525-8612, fax to 523-8509, send
e-mail to publisher@starbulletin.com or write to
P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802.