Tablet/Laptop being requried at Middle School

[ChristmasGirl]

Apparently we are supposed to purchase one and send it to school with him every day I am a terrible email reader, and it wasn't even on my radar until today.

I think it is ridiculous to require middle school students to bring a device that is 300-1000 to school. And what about them being lost/damaged/stolen?!!!

The office woman let me know that there will be extra devices that can be checked out on a daily basis, but what if those are all "taken"? And in reading the emails I missed, they are not presenting it as an "optional" thing. However I guess they are going to have some available.

I don't know. Stuff like this just makes me upset because it is a public school, and I don't think they should be required to have one. My high schooler doesn't even have to take technology to school.

Thoughts?

[2sunshines]

I would be very upset! Doesn't seems reasonable. Surely there are lots of parents who simply cannot afford this.

[esperanza]

As a public school teacher, I cannot believe this. The school needs to provide those devices for every student. That would never ever fly in my district.

[ChristmasGirl]

Apparently because the median income in our town is over 100,000 and our school district is in what is listed as the 7th wealthiest county in the country they feel like they can get away with it We do not make that much and I don't see how they can ask everyone to do that!

[WanderingJuniper]

Woah. I would be really angry. Our SD provided chromebooks for all 7-12 grade students. If we had to pay out of pocket for two this year it would be almost impossible with everything else we have going on. I'm surprised they don't have an income/need based scale set up and a way for families to purchase through the SD at a discount with payment plan or something like that. We are able to do that with the activity fees.

[Aerynne]

Yeah, they can't actually do that. But if they allow them to be checked out and there actually are enough to check out then that might work (if other parents think this is no big deal). Also I'd be concerned about how much screen stuff they are doing- seriously, he can work on screens at home- school is supposed to be about getting together with others to learn. So I'd be concerned about the type of learning environment this will make. It could also be the kind of thing that is required but doesn't end up being used much. It's not like all the teachers are suddenly going to change their teaching methods. I wonder if they are going to use it more for attendance or other things like that.

[Allison]

Is this is a public school? I don't know how they think that's going to work. What about families with multiple children? I think that is going to wind up making a lot of children feel left out or less than.

[WanderingJuniper]

Originally Posted by Aerynne

Yeah, they can't actually do that. But if they allow them to be checked out and there actually are enough to check out then that might work (if other parents think this is no big deal). Also I'd be concerned about how much screen stuff they are doing- seriously, he can work on screens at home- school is supposed to be about getting together with others to learn. So I'd be concerned about the type of learning environment this will make. It could also be the kind of thing that is required but doesn't end up being used much. It's not like all the teachers are suddenly going to change their teaching methods. I wonder if they are going to use it more for attendance or other things like that.

I know my SD is moving away from paper text books which is part of why they provide them They also allow note taking in either paper form or digital. My oldest said they work on group projects through Google classroom so it isn't isolated time but cooperative work that still involves technology. Last year they could borrow ipads and chromebooks as a classroom or as individual students from the media center (aka library).

[Katigre]

I would ask about financial aid for buying one. I don't have a problem with them being required as long as there is a way to provide for families who can't afford one. Blended learning is mainstream, and I want my kids to be proficient in it. Even ten years ago when tutoring the language curriculum i the school used had internet integrated components, today it's even moreso. I'm a pretty big techie though .

[TheNaturalBetta]

My first thought is, "what a horrible idea". Tablets have internet capability... So many kids are already hooked on p..n and texting erm, "pictures", and here they will be unsupervised by parents. Not that long ago it was common advice to only have the computer in the main room of the house for that reason. Supervision. Even innocent stuff like just distracting games or whatever... It just seems like a bad idea. Aren't teachers going to wish for the days of gum chewing and passing notes being the normal offenses? Kids are already having to deal with online bullying after school. Or am I being overly dramatic?

At the very least, it WILL be hugely embarrassing to the children who cannot afford it. Everything matters in school, the right hair, shoes, clothes... It is awful.

[sweetpeasmommy]

I grew up in a town where the average income is currently 95k and they give each 7th grader an iPad. I don't think the student owns the iPad, it remains the property of the district but the student brings it home to do schoolwork and I think they even keep it on summer break as they are expected to use it for several consecutive years. I confused myself so I looked up what they actually do. http://www.courant.com/community/gla...006-story.html


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[melliethepooh]

Honestly, knowing your school district, they should be able to afford them. The district, I mean.

[mommylove]

That is frustrating. It's hard when you're expected to keep up with your mega wealthy neighbors.

[ChristmasGirl]

Originally Posted by melliethepooh

Honestly, knowing your school district, they should be able to afford them. The district, I mean.

You would think so. Ironically we end up even paying for the kids to ride the bus.

So apparently you can buy a chromebook through a website, for $350 but ds said they had some chromebooks in the classrooms the past few years and they were slow and he didn't think they worked well. Not sure I want to purchase one if that's the case.

I personally think that if they are requiring them as part of their curriculum that the school should provide them!

[ECingMama]

My nephew said EVERYONE at his middle school has an iphone, and all the teachers let them use them during class. I wouldn't be surprised if a tablet/laptop is soon required there too. Ugh.

I have a laptop like this. Follow instructions on amazon on how to make it run well, and it's fine.

https://www.amazon.com/HP-15-g070nr-...AT0T3WGJ721ZPX