Schools ask parents to pay up before kids log on

Iria · Jan 3, 2006, 03:37 PM

FULLERTON, Calif. — Heather Sutherland was excited to learn her public school system was using laptop computers to teach elementary students such as her daughter. Until, that is, she found out parents were expected to pay the nearly $1,500 cost.

"I said, 'What? You must be joking,' " Sutherland says. "I think it's unfair that the (school district) is requiring us to 'pay to learn.' "

The public school system in this quiet city 27 miles southeast of Los Angeles is pushing the frontiers of computer technology in the classroom with a program that puts a laptop computer into the backpacks of children as early as first grade. It is pushing the boundaries of financing, too, by asking parents to pay $500 a year for three years so each of more than 2,000 elementary and middle school children can have their own Apple iBook G4 laptop.

An increasing number of school systems are using computers in the core curriculum of early grades. Don Knezek, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education, a non-profit group in Washington, says one laptop per student is the hottest trend in educational computing.

But asking parents to pay for it isn't.

"I can see where that issue raises concerns," he says. "I'm not aware of anyone else who has tried that."
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Read More / Source: USA Today

Distroyed · Jan 3, 2006, 04:37 PM

Education isnt free. Laptops dont grow on trees. Someone has to pay, either directly or via taxes. Plebs.

Sandok · Jan 3, 2006, 04:46 PM

Meh that's even starting here... Some people really want kids to have glasses!

Iria · Jan 3, 2006, 07:01 PM

Well, schools in CA are so underbudgeted, I don't see this as outrageous. On the other hand, other times I've seen this it had to be a G4. In other words, you couldn't use a Windows laptop if you wanted. My guess is this will be the same way. Why can't someone use a spare Windows laptop from home? Let's face it, there are a lot more of those around (and they are a LOT cheaper ... remember the big Black Friday sales?).

mkk · Jan 4, 2006, 06:06 AM

Smells like someone's been bribed.

Jan 3, 2006, 03:37 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	Schools ask parents to pay up before kids log on FULLERTON, Calif. — Heather Sutherland was excited to learn her public school system was using laptop computers to teach elementary students such as her daughter. Until, that is, she found out parents were expected to pay the nearly $1,500 cost. "I said, 'What? You must be joking,' " Sutherland says. "I think it's unfair that the (school district) is requiring us to 'pay to learn.' " The public school system in this quiet city 27 miles southeast of Los Angeles is pushing the frontiers of computer technology in the classroom with a program that puts a laptop computer into the backpacks of children as early as first grade. It is pushing the boundaries of financing, too, by asking parents to pay $500 a year for three years so each of more than 2,000 elementary and middle school children can have their own Apple iBook G4 laptop. An increasing number of school systems are using computers in the core curriculum of early grades. Don Knezek, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education, a non-profit group in Washington, says one laptop per student is the hottest trend in educational computing. But asking parents to pay for it isn't. "I can see where that issue raises concerns," he says. "I'm not aware of anyone else who has tried that." ___________ Read More / Source: USA Today Last edited by Iria; Jan 3, 2006 at 03:44 PM.

Jan 3, 2006, 04:37 PM	#2
Distroyed DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 170 Rep Power: 0	Education isnt free. Laptops dont grow on trees. Someone has to pay, either directly or via taxes. Plebs.

Jan 3, 2006, 04:46 PM	#3
Sandok DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 9,472 Rep Power: 66	Meh that's even starting here... Some people really want kids to have glasses!

Jan 3, 2006, 07:01 PM	Thread Starter #4
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	Well, schools in CA are so underbudgeted, I don't see this as outrageous. On the other hand, other times I've seen this it had to be a G4. In other words, you couldn't use a Windows laptop if you wanted. My guess is this will be the same way. Why can't someone use a spare Windows laptop from home? Let's face it, there are a lot more of those around (and they are a LOT cheaper ... remember the big Black Friday sales?).

Jan 4, 2006, 06:06 AM	#5
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,384 Rep Power: 120 System Specs	Smells like someone's been bribed.