Sovereignty of SeaWitch

If only it were a Greek classroom.

• has basic knowledge of computers and home entertainment systems
• has an interest in movies
• has a basic grasp of english (since 90% of our movies, games and entertainment system instruction manuals) are in the English language
• can be flexible with working hours
• appears to be responsible and honest

Many of the hopeful candidates do meet 3-4 of the requirements. Incredibly enough, they don't meet the most important requirement...basic computer knowledge. Many of them have never used a computer in their lives let alone know how to differentiate between hardware and software. I tell them repeatedly that their degree in biology, french, or visual arts is of no use to us without unless they can boot the PC, launch the store software, backup the transactions to the Zip and explain the difference between RAM and a hard drive to a potential purchaser. My 11 year old son can do all of this. He's had a computer since he was 7. It's astonishing that a 21 year-old university graduate can't.

What's even more puzzling to me is that they don't even see a problem with their computer illiteracy. I ask them how they expect to even get a job at Pizza Hut without knowing how to use a computer. They believe that computers are overrated and therefore, my shock over their lack of computer skills is unwarranted.

To top it all off, I have never ONCE received a curriculum vitae from any of them. When I ask them to email it to me when they get it, they blankly stare at me. "Email? You mean fax?" It's that bad.

Is the Dept. of Education and the schools themselves to blame for this gross oversight in the child's curriculum? Yes, I do believe they are partially responsible since not enough importance is placed on computer literacy and the need to prepare our children for a global workplace. I've asked my son's PTA why there aren't computer lessons in the curriculum for all the children instead of it being treated as a fee-based extracurricular activity for a dozen children on 3 outdated computers . They say that there just isn't enough money to get them. I can appreciate that given that Greece spends the least amount of money on public education in the EU. This year, I'm going to propose to my son's school that we attempt some sort of fundraiser or sponsorship deal with local business for new computers. Where there's a will, there must be a way. Unfortunately, it's easier to find the ways than the will in others.

Parents are also partially responsible. I've tried to convince many parents at the stores to buy a starter PC for their children instead of a PlayStation console which is roughly the same price (once you factor in the cost of a memory stick, game and remote control). So far, it's a lost cause. Parents have told me they were raised without a computer and they got along just fine without one. They've told me that since they know nothing about computers, their child will only meet paedophiles on the Internet. Apparently, ballet and karate lessons are the keys to a child's employment success rather than computer literacy. This prevalent attitude must change before our children find the doors of employment opportunity closed to them in adulthood.