Recently, I've seen a few widening cracks in the stubborn resistance of many teachers I know to the use of electronic communications technology. One in particular, who used to almost boast of her inability to send, receive, open or otherwise connect with e-mail, now is in regular touch through her school-based e-mail account.

The problem is, she and her colleagues are chasing a fast-moving target. A new NetDay survey of how teachers and students use technology reveals the sad truth: just as the percentage of teachers who use e-mail to communicate with students is finally reaching critical mass -- more than a third -- students are leaving e-mail behind for the real-time charms of Instant Messaging.

There is a touch of cause-and-effect at work, I suspect. Teens are always figuratively posting that "Keep Out" sign on the door. And this means you, parents and teachers. So as teachers embrace e-mail, students flee to a new technological island they can call their own. According to the NetDay survey, about 65 percent of students in grades 6-12 use e-mail or IM every day. But students are much more likely to use IM to communicate with each other. E-mail is now mostly used for communicating with adults.

The question now is what comes next -- will teachers and parents break the IM barrier? Don't expect to find me among the advance guard -- what I love about e-mail is that it doesn't get in your face, tug on your sleeve, or otherwise pester you for an immediate response. But hey, you go on ahead without me, and send me an e-mail to tell me what you find.