The National Geographic Society believes that schools are the last major institutions in the United States to adopt new information technologies because of fear of change, fear of technology, and narrowly focused public policies. The results of this failure to modernize schools has been to graduate workers who can't meet minimum job requirements and to attempt to maintain a democracy without a properly informed citizenry. New telecommunications policy must be crafted that assures equal access for all children to educational technologies. New teaching practices must emphasize interaction between students and teachers. The National Geographic Society has a tradition of harnessing technology in the service of the community and linking technology and teaching in innovative ways. Distance education networks such as the National Geographic Kids Network is one of several educational networks that facilitate the exchange of information and advance the use of technology in educational systems. (DB)