CLASS OF 20001 MEETS 1997; TEENS SEE TOTALLY TECHNOLOGICAL FUTURE

The countdown to a new millennium has begun with a high-tech computerized clock ticking away the nanoseconds until the turn of the century.

As the countdown grows one year closer, a group of eighth-grade advanced literature students at Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School took a stab at predicting the future.

After all, these students represent the Class of 2001. Despite all the attention the Class of 2000 has received, these eighth-graders see the Class of 2001 as the start of the new age.

"We're at the beginning of the century. It's all on us," said Laura Sheets."

The teens say technology will be the one sure theme for the years to come.

"Technology is going to be more and more a part of our lives," said Shawn Pincksten.

Chris Cole sees the world becoming "smaller and more high tech."

Old-fashioned vinyl records shrunk to compact discs and now CDs are becoming mini discs. "And everything is getting portable," said Laura.

Homes, cars, televisions and students already depend on computer technology.

Brad Neels said the school library will need fewer books and more software, CD-roms and Internet access.

Access to the Internet, which is available at the junior high, is essential for research projects, explained Brett Harkey. "We're not playing."

Jill Roddy said, "We have to keep up with the technology that keeps rising."

In fact, the teens fear they might be left behind in a rapidly advancing computer age. Preschoolers can maneuver software with an ease some of them don't possess. "There are kids younger than us who know a lot about computers," said Emily Elias.

"We're trying to keep up," said Brad Neels.

While the answer to many of the world's troubles may be just a mouse click away, advancing technology presents its own problems.

"I think that our world will be run by computers," said Danielle Milam, "and that will take the place of lots of jobs of today."

But the teens see the benefits of technology outweighing the troubles.

Brad Eels predicts that medical technology will experience many advances. As a result, he said, "we will see lots of cures. We already have laser surgery."

Teen violence in Cape Girardeau, but even more throughout the nation, troubles the teens. Danielle Milam predicts the violence will get worse before it gets better.

But Brett Harkey thinks teens are going to turn around within the next few years. "We are going to realize that the world's so screwed up, something has to be done."

The teens feel a responsibility to cure society's ills -- pollution, violence, disease -- and see the increasing technology as a tool to make that happen.

"Solar-powered cars are already possible," said Brett.

"We're trying to fix the mistakes of our parents' generation," said Laura.

But Brad added that his generation won't be perfect either.

"Our kids will have to fix our mistakes," he said.