With the explosion of the computer/information age, abilities and expectations have soared faster than the tornado that snatched Dorothy up from the security of her farmhouse. Young children today live in a new world where critical thinking skills, processing and comprehension of the task at hand can be done for them with a touch of a button. Ask any teacher who has taught for more than 10 years: They will tell you that standards have been raised, but not by any "misguided expectations of the teacher." Through technology the world has become smaller and our classrooms have lost their walls. Do you wonder why Barney does not appeal to 4- and 5-year-olds anymore? Because they have the experiences and the cognitive abilities to realize that purple dinosaurs like Barney did not exist, and then will go on to tell you the names and food preferences of real-life dinosaurs.

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