School is harder without the Net

Panic overcomes you.
A full-scale research project is assigned in Honors U.S. History. The requirements include a working outline, printed research, a typed report and a bibliography.
Oh yeah, did the teacher mention it is due next week?
Where do you turn?
Most kids are dazed for a few quick moments before they breathe a sigh of relief.
Internet access to the rescue.
The Internet has become an essential part of life for all types of people. Life is easier and tasks take a fraction of the time.
But what about students and schools without it?
It's just assumed that students in wealthy districts have access to the Internet in their homes. That's a problem when non-online students are given a project.
Work harder: Students with the information at their fingertips on the Internet use less time and effort on their homework, while students with no access have to work harder to find the information and sometimes receive lower grades because of the inferior amount of information in their work.
School districts without access are left behind. The technology just cannot be provided.
If a school cannot afford the Internet, generally, the individual students cannot either.
The age of books and fine literature is collecting dust on library shelves. Books are still an indispensable and inexpensive way of retrieving useful information. All people can use them and gain the exact same information as the next person.
A poll of students at Poland Seminary High School found that out of 221 students, only four do not have Internet access in their homes. I am one of the four.
Students without access at home have to find other means of gathering information, sometimes doing more work for less grade.
Most of the students online attempt to work the night homework is due, while students without it have to plan ahead on a work schedule.
Unfortunately, most teachers cannot find a difference, and award the same grade.
Not a requirement: The bottom line is that teachers cannot expect every student to have the answers at a touch of a button.
Internet access at home is not a required school supply, at least not at Poland. But it is slowly becoming one. Thus, students without it are discriminated against.
Teachers are making access a mandatory requirement in homework and projects. The Internet requirements should be mandatory only if, and when, equality is reached.
XTristan, 16, is a sophomore at Poland Seminary High School. She's a member of the marching and concert bands, choir and the cross country team.