The market for information technology jobs in North Carolina continued to improve modestly in May, but it remains slim pickings for job hunters, according to a new report.

There were 1,250 IT job openings posted statewide in May, up 10 percent from April, according to the monthly report by the N. C. Technology Association.

Still, the number of openings fell 63 percent from a year ago and was down 82 percent from May 2007.

The job market in North Carolina is healthier than the national picture. IT jobs nationwide fell 4.8 percent in May from the prior month.

“Since stocks tend to recover first before demand for labor picks up after a recession, the current development in the stock market is generating some optimism that jobs may begin to return later this year,” stated the report prepared for NCTA by SkillPROOF, which focuses on job market data and research.

The Durham Public Schools are offering a chance today for parents and others to see how new technology is put to work in the classroom.

The opportunity occurs from from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. as part of a Technology Showcase at the Staff Development Center, located at 2107 Hillandale Road, Durham.

Teachers will talk about how they are using technology at each grade level, from kindergarten to high school. Displays and presentations will show how blogs, podcasting, whiteboards and SmartPhones can be used as part of education projects.

It looks like schools may get new computers before they get new roofs or HVAC systems.

Even though no major construction projects need to be delayed for now, school administrators said Tuesday that some smaller items need to be suspended. That list had included the district's computer replacement program.

But staff pulled the suspension of the computers off the list when school board members complained.

Should a parent's right to block his or her child from using the Internet at school trump the school district's desire to show students how to use an important educational tool?

As noted in today's article, Wake is leaning more on providing access to the Internet. Wake doesn't completely ban Internet access from students whose parents have filed a "Parental Request to Deny Access Form."

Wake's position is that the parent is only denying unfettered personal access. School officials say all students can use the Internet if a teacher or administrator is using it as part of a supervised activity.

In case you missed our story Sunday about the iPod Touches that might be handed out to all Culbreth Middle School students, here it is.

It's sparked quite the discussion about the merits of this experiment. Feel free to weigh in.

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools board of education is slated to take up the proposed program at its Sept. 4 meeting.

Wake could have a windfall or a problem on its hands.

Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning Jr. has ruled that the state must turn over $747.9 million in illegally withheld civil fines to the state's 115 school districts. Wake's share would be around $70 million, which Manning says must be used for technology.

Here's the potential problem. Considering the tough economy, it's hard imagining the General Assembly will suddenly find the money. What could happen, school officials fear, is that the General Assembly will "supplant" the money, taking away $747.9 million in education funding to comply with Manning.

Click here to read the court order.

UPDATE

Click here for today's article. The ruling is look more like a pyrrhic victory for the schools. 

In a telephone conversation with my mother recently, she told me how she ran into trouble getting her laptop set up for internet access. She spent three hours on the phone with a man from India. She had difficulty understanding him, and he had difficulty understanding her. I marveled at her composure and patience throughout the ordeal.

 Frequently, I have to wade through a myriad of recorded messages when I make a telephone call to reach a person, if ever.

As I child, I admired and respected my mother without question. But as an adult, I never thought I'd live to see the day that I wish I was more like my mother. These technological and globalization bloopers try my patience, and I don't like the end result. It seems the only thing we can do is wait, with grace and dignity, something I'm short on these days, and wish I was more like my mother.

I find myself sounding ancient, longing for yesteryear and a simpler day when people actually talked to people instead of machines. And I'm only 49.

When was the last time you hand wrote a letter? I can't remember when. I used to love to get hand written letters. Now, I usually resort to email or my word processor if they are mailed.

I risk blogging the hand that feeds me, but I must say I think technology and globilization are taking us down a slippery slope.  We are making the simple difficult and encumbered and robbing ourselves of needed neighborliness.

 I'm all for making friends with the people of the world, but not in a way that sets up the parties for failure. And I'm all for making technolgy work for us. But I think we're becoming slaves to it instead.