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Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

Into the Net

You're exploring a pyramid in ancient Egypt for a school project. You travel down a narrow corridor, shining your flashlight on the dusty symbols on the walls. Is that a mummy just ahead? Brring! The recess bell. Time to log off your computer and head outside for dodge ball.

For schools riding the latest wave in education, this virtual field trip is no daydream. It's made possible by a huge system of computers and information called the Internet. President Bill Clinton wants all American kids to join in. He's announced a plan to link every U.S. classroom to the Internet by the year 2000.

What Is The Internet?
The information superhighway, or Internet, is a system of thousands of groups of computers linking millions of people worldwide. The words and images that appear on your screen travel through telephone lines. Devices called modems link computers to the phone lines.

An early form of the Internet appeared in 1969, when the government joined just four computers through a phone line to "talk" to one another. Today businesses, schools and families "surf the Net" to chat, work, play games or explore hobbies.

The Net Comes To School
The most popular part of the Net is the World Wide Web. The Web is made up of "sites" with pictures, words and sounds. Users can jump from site to site. Many schools have made their own Web "pages," which are like bulletin boards.

Students can travel almost anywhere on the Net. "You can dissect a frog, talk to an expert on seaweed, go to the White House or the Smithsonian Institution," says Rosemary Jacot, a teacher in Oak Park, Illinois.

But computers, phone lines and software can be expensive. Only about half of U.S. public schools have Internet access. Poorer schools fear they will be left in the dust.

A Goal For The Year 2000
The President wants to bring the Net to every school. Two weeks ago, he and Vice President Al Gore visited Christopher Columbus Junior High in Union City, New Jersey. Teachers, students and parents spoke about how the Internet works for them.

After a demonstration of the school's technology, Clinton admired how "homework is being done in a new way. Test scores have gone up, and dropout rates have gone down."

Big-Business Connection
The President wants the Federal Government to give states $2 billion for high-tech classrooms. He also wants big companies to help pay. On February 8, he signed a bill that requires companies to help schools get computer services at low prices.

Some have already pitched in. Christopher Columbus school can explore new worlds thanks to the Bell Atlantic phone company. In Chula Vista, California, the Juarez-Lincoln School has help from Pacific Bell. Kids at Juarez-Lincoln who used to skip class now knock on the door before school starts. "The Internet is great. All you have to do is click," says Elena Romero, 12.

Will Your School Go Global?
Not everyone is sure that all schools will be wired by the year 2000. Congress may not approve the President's $2 billion proposal. School systems may not have the money to get started, even with help from Big Business and government.

But chances are you will be seeing some cool changes at school. For a future field trip, you may not need a bag lunch or a bus. You might just slide your chair up to the nearest computer, log on to the information superhighway and zoom right out of your classroom.

Hot Web Sites
Exploring the Internet? Get caught in the World Wide Web!

• Visit frigid Antarctica in a T shirt or take an archaeological bike tour through Maya ruins at www.mecc.com


• See the Mona Lisa and other masterpieces at www.paris.org No tired feet from this tour.
• Write a note to President Clinton at www.whitehouse.gov Click your mouse at the White House cat, Socks.
• Hungry after your adventures? Take a tour of the M&M's factory at www.baking.m-ms.com Sorry, no free samples!

Next: A Primary Surprise