Internet-savvy teachers applauded at school

To keep the element of surprise, students and the teachers who were left out of the loop, only had a vague understanding that the meeting was to hear from district officials. Children and staff cheered about the new modernizations to their school and the new library and computer lab as Tish Bussele, assistant superintendent, spoke.

The real reason for the visit was not disclosed until later. Bussele was accompanied by Deputy Mayor John Lee, District Board of Directors Chairman Jack Coyne, and Macleod.

The two teachers won out of 152 entries this year. A total of 11 awards were given out in California, Texas, and Maine, where National Semiconductor has offices. Leonarda Bush from Serra Junipero Elementary School in Daly City also won an award with a teacher from Texas. With three awards, San Mateo County, in the heart of Silicon Valley, had the largest number of internet winners out of any other area. National Semiconductors has distributed a total of $3 million in awards to schools in the three years it has run the program.

"We think the web has tremendous potential in education," said Don Macleod, chief financial officer for National Semiconductors. "We've been developing a program where schools get more and more access and teachers get more and more money."

Buckman told a group of about 450 George Hall students and school staff and teachers, "Not only are they a company that supports technology and education, but they are right on where they come from." She referred to the company's support of using the internet not as a primary teaching tool, but as a tool within a broader curriculum. Buckman said she could not have succeeding in winning the award alone. "A person can make a difference, but when you put together a team it can be a miracle, and this is a miracle."

Fraser said despite the good that the internet can bring, her program is teaching her students to develop a critical eye about what they see and read about on the internet.

"There's so much information out there. Students now almost discount going to the library. Maybe the teacher's role is to be a surf guru, and to develop a healthy skepticism so they don't believe they read, and to get them to see the hidden agenda," Fraser said.

George Hall will be putting their $20,000 towards staff development in learning how to design advanced websites - each classroom at the school already has their own website. Fraser asked that the money going to San Mateo College High School be put towards sending a teacher from each of the high schools in the district to New Media Classroom, a computer development program for teachers.

And Fraser will be spending her check on -- what more appropriate - a new computer and printer for her family. Fraser said, "We have needed a new computer for three years in my house, and a printer."

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