Interview #1(in a series of 2) with a sixth grade classroom: What are your hopes and fears surrounding internet use?

                       Before presenting the results of this "interview,"  I must honestly admit that this was an  astoundingly eye-opening exercise for me as a sixth grade educator to hear my students speak so eloquently about this social issue.  I suspect that this is in part because I do not often get to hear my students express themselves in English, as the primary focus for classroom time is to optimize speaking and listening in the target language of Spanish. A strange reality at times, the World Language classroom on the middle level, that is, with students struggling to express themselves in both English and Spanish and/or both.  Just not enough time in the day,  the classroom,  the curriculum, the schedule, etc.  Perhaps a problem that is cured with a little more technology/Internet activity?????
                     In any case, what I learned from my informal questioning the other day was truly amazing. Here are some of the results: This generation really does have its own fears concerning Internet use and they are not just accepting the digital world into their reality without thinking deeply about it. Amongst their fears were: fear for their safety, fear of destroying their creativity, (how did they know that previous youthful generations were outside in their backyards playing with sticks after school,..... not surfing the net?), fear of interacting less with their environment, fear that technology will consume our lives, ecological concerns: fear of excessive electricity use and its resulting radiation, and finally, fear that our culture outside of technology will die.  I almost fell over, but I didn't, I grabbed a pen instead, and started recording their divine insight. After their drops of pure divine insight had finished pouring down from the inspiration sky that day,  I asked them a question. The question that I asked them after they presented their fears to me was: "Are your feelings a combination of what you are hearing, your own personal opinion, and what is actually happening???" Their response to me was,  an overall affirmation, "yes."
                  I will interview the students again, and this time I will ask them to focus more on how technology and Internet use will enhance their lives, and what are their thoughts on how they will benefit from more opportunity for global/international communication.

( It should be noted that I did originally ask them for both their hopes and fears surrounding this social issue, but time constraints prevailed. I will continue with their "hopes" in the second interview.)