Going Online

Over the last several weeks, colleges and universities have transitioned to online learning. Companies have told employees to work at home.

Just flip the switch and we'll roll on.

If only it were that easy.

There are many lessons to be learned from our collective response to the Corona Virus. I hope one is that when it comes to technology, not all of us are equal.

While most of us consider high speed internet access and home computers a given like the kitchen sink, that's simply not the case for everyone.

As college students scattered across the country to finish the semester online, they were going home to differing technological realities. Internet access isn't the same everywhere. In some family situations, a home computer is a luxury. While on campus, it's not unusual for students to use an IPad to read their online textbooks, then write their papers on library computers.

This technological gap can exist not only for some college students, but those in grades K-12. In response to schools being closed, local districts have started posting assignments online. What if the family doesn't have access to a computer and printer? What then?

According to recently published statistics, nearly 90% of American households either have a laptop or desktop computer.* The other 10%? Some are no doubt older households. IPhones and IPads work just fine for Grandma and Grandpa who are retired in Florida and can FaceTime with their grandchildren.

But for those homes where there is no computer and school age children? Our daughter has several technological devices at home from IPads to Nintendo and virtual reality goggles.  A home computer? Nope. If she needs to use one, she comes to our house.

Generally speaking, computers should be replaced every five years to keep up with technology. They can last longer if being used just for internet browsing and keeping track of the family budget.

But will those machines be suitable substitutes for the computer at your desk when you're suddenly called upon to do your  job at home? Maybe not. This might explain why one of our real estate clients, who is responsible for his company's IT operations, has been delivering laptops to employees, who are now working at home.

What's more surprising is that about 19 million Americans -- 6% of the population - still lack access to fixed broad services at minimal levels. In rural areas, nearly 25% of the population -- 14.5 million people -- lack any internet access.

It's called the digital divide.  It's more stunning when you consider that 41% of the world's population doesn't have any internet access at all. (How do they survive without YouTube and TikTok?)

When Bridgewater State University made the decision to move to online learning, I polled my students about access to the internet and home computers. A handful responded that they had limited or no internet access and/or no home computer. The obvious suggestion to use their Town Library quickly became moot.

Starting tomorrow, our granddaughter's school district is implementing mandatory morning meetings with teachers and students. Weekly assignments are being posted at the school's website. Her First Communion class began Zoom instruction this past Sunday!

This is certainly a welcomed effort to provide a sense of normalcy and structure for students, while continuing the learning process at some level. But for those homes where technology is an issue -- no matter how small the number -- one has to hope that school districts will provide resources and assistance.

Already isolated from their classmates, teachers, after school activities and other family members, this is not the time to leave any child behind.

*Statista, March 2020

Sentenced to the Rocking Chair

One of my pet peeves for years has been age discrimination. Long before I crossed the line into "senior citizenship," I saw it impact me and others on too many occasions.

Bring us in for the second and third job interviews; ask us questions that only our years of experience can effectively answer, but hire someone else and arm them with the information we provided.

In 2020, we still haven't figured out what to do with people, who just a few decades ago were considered "old." I have great memories of my Mother's parents and when I think about them now I have images of people who are actually younger than I am, but look and act much older.

Our confusion with age struck me once again following the recent
decision by Cleveland Cavaliers Coach John Beilien to step aside. A highly successful college coach at the University of Michigan, his record with the Cavs at the All-Star break was a dismal 14-40. It was reported that he couldn't relate to his young players.

When the commentary on ESPN turned to whether Beilein should go back to the college game, there was always a remark from a 30-something talking head that went something like: "Well, he's 67 you know..."

To which I would silently scream to myself: "Yeah, so????"

Duke's legendary Coach K is 73 and I haven't heard anyone suggest that he should be heading to the rocking chair on his front porch. Bill Belichick is 67 and no one would dare even whisper that he's "too old" for the rigors of an NFL head coaching job.

As someone who isn't interested in retiring, I'm fortunate that my resume includes years of teaching, where experience in my field counts.  I'm also lucky my wife decided to bring me on as her associate in her highly successful real estate practice, where the fact that I'm older and "helping her out" has seemed to give me credibility with some of our clients. 

I have to be honest and say that in my mid- 50's when I moved on from the job of a lifetime that came at the wrong time in my life, the search for what to do next wasn't easy. I followed all the suggestions offered by AARP and other sources, but finished runner up to someone younger with less experience more times than I care to remember.

I'll never forget a call I received from a contact in an HR Department at a non-profit where I was the second choice. She told me confidentially that the organization was very interested in hiring me, but was afraid that I would retire in a few years. This after I made it clear that for a variety of very specific reasons I had no interest in early retirement and was looking forward to long career with the agency.

I think part of the difficulty society has in dealing with the "new" older generation is that we're not one size fits all. Many of us have been blessed with good health and an interest in remaining active whether working, traveling or volunteering. But, there are also others our age, who are struggling with challenges. There's simply no algorithm to predict who will be what and when.

Eighty-one year old British TV personality Johnny Ball, who is best known for his popular children's math and science programs, has said that "discrimination due to age is one of the great tragedies of modern life. The desire to work and be useful is what makes life worth living, and to be told that your efforts are not needed because you are the wrong age is a crime."

The question is how do we convince the people in HR and ESPN that age is just a number?