Auburn, Maine, to give iPads to each kindergartner

Dana

Dana

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Absoloutely ridiculous and a waste of state money.

The Maine city of Auburn is going to be giving iPad2 computers to each kindergartner this fall. The Auburn School Committee voted for the plan on Wednesday. Former Maine Gov. Angus King, who attended the school meeting, says Auburn may be the first district in Maine to give computers to all students in a single grade. School Superintendent Tom Morrill says he's expecting 285 kindergarten students this fall, which will translate to an expected cost of about $200,000. The Sun Journal newspaper reports Morrill as saying the iPad2s are "truly redefining how we're going to teach and learn."
 
if you had insurance on them it might actually be worth it

I bet they will get rid of books and go digital

But the problem I see is kids will either break em or lose them too easily

Even in high school there would be issues with that. I can not imagine how bad it would be for little kids. Unless they plan on making the kids leave the computers in the classes. In which case why would you not go with a cheaper desktop?
 
It's a waste of money when schools are cutting programs and other things are more important than giving a FIVE YEAR OLD an ipad. How bout using that 200,000 to fix Mains fucked up roads.
 
I would understand if they gave Ipads to Mid & High Schoolers as they do here in California. But it's only for those students with higher academic grades/qualified.

However, Kindergarteners ? :willy_nilly:

Would they be able to to bring those home? Or stays in school? :ninja
 
do something about it other than griping about it...write or call your rep and tell them how you feel. and ask them (your reps) to defend their actions( if they did vote for it) besides, it is inevitable that students will be having all books and tools for school on a computer.
 
Alien Allen said:
if you had insurance on them it might actually be worth it

I bet they will get rid of books and go digital

But the problem I see is kids will either break em or lose them too easily

Even in high school there would be issues with that. I can not imagine how bad it would be for little kids. Unless they plan on making the kids leave the computers in the classes. In which case why would you not go with a cheaper desktop?
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You're right that schools nowadays have shifted to Ebooks and most home works are online. They have adapted also different programs for certain subjects like Math, Science, History etc hence it's all via online. It's all thru School's website where the kids are given passwords.

I agree tho on Kindergarteners easily breaking it. Mid-High Schoolers here when given either an Ipad or Mac are asked to get insurance and parents sign a contract to keep the item safe :D
 
pjbleek said:
do something about it other than griping about it...write or call your rep and tell them how you feel. and ask them (your reps) to defend their actions( if they did vote for it) besides, it is inevitable that students will be having all books and tools for school on a computer.
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Okay Mr. Activist, I just found out about it this morning. Geez
 
I think if given a computer at an early age (and if the kids/parents were financially responsible for them) it would be a great learning tool. computers are everywhere and the sooner a person learns that it is part of their life the better prepared they will be in the future. Anyone who is twenty years old and younger has had some sort of computer in their lives. It goes without saying that these kids will be dependent on a computer near to 100% of their lives, so let them start early and who knows maybe they will get bored of facebook, myspace,etc..
 
pjbleek said:
I think if given a computer at an early age (and if the kids/parents were financially responsible for them) it would be a great learning tool. computers are everywhere and the sooner a person learns that it is part of their life the better prepared they will be in the future. Anyone who is twenty years old and younger has had some sort of computer in their lives. It goes without saying that these kids will be dependent on a computer near to 100% of their lives, so let them start early and who knows maybe they will get bored of facebook, myspace,etc..
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one word.............

Desktop ;)
 
My kids are amazing with computers, cell phones, small electronic devices. Sure they have broke many of their other toys, but the boys know better when it comes to the cool stuff. Kids today have to be different then we were because of those technology changes.

Most cases the Ipad/other devices are loaded with certain software and that's all the kids can access so worry of them getting to other stuff isn't much of an issue.

I don't think kindergarteners should get them, but to keep up with the times it's almost a necessity.
 
pjbleek said:
I think if given a computer at an early age (and if the kids/parents were financially responsible for them) it would be a great learning tool. computers are everywhere and the sooner a person learns that it is part of their life the better prepared they will be in the future. Anyone who is twenty years old and younger has had some sort of computer in their lives. It goes without saying that these kids will be dependent on a computer near to 100% of their lives, so let them start early and who knows maybe they will get bored of facebook, myspace,etc..
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:homo:
 
TGLucario475 said:
Waste of money really as what are the kids gonna learn on them other than how to use Facebook and XTube?
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dkwrtw said:
I agree it's a massive waste of money, schools everywhere are cutting teachers and shortening school years and they want to give free IPADS to frigging 5 year olds :facepalm:
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I agree sort of which I question myself about 5 y/os being given an Ipad. But I guess PJ is right to say and we need to be open minded to the idea of teaching responsibility to kids as early as this age with the support of the parents of course.

However, I dont agree that it's a waste of money. California for example has undergone many budget cuts etc and you're right about that :nod:

However, this is a project of Apple to help schools and revive the educational system of America. Given, Apple is here in California, they have started that project here first and now it's spreading! Apple finances most of these Ipads and Macs distributed to the schools! :thumbup
 
dkwrtw said:
I agree it's a massive waste of money, schools everywhere are cutting teachers and shortening school years and they want to give free IPADS to frigging 5 year olds :facepalm:
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In our district they are wanting to lengthen the school year. Oh...and they want to pay us less. That is just the tip of the iceberg though. Lovely, eh?

I have looked into buying an iPad for my classroom. You would think kids nowadays would know tons about computers but i still have some that get to me in 6th grade and don't know the first thing about them. So I agree that computers would be great, but iPads? for kindergartners? That is a bit extreme.

Also, they have done all these studies and many have found that the most effective classrooms are actually the ones that use very little to no technology. I think technology makes the teachers lives easier. It doesn't necessarily have a huge impact on the students.
 
Boomerang said:
In our district they are wanting to lengthen the school year. Oh...and they want to pay us less. That is just the tip of the iceberg though. Lovely, eh?

I have looked into buying an iPad for my classroom. You would think kids nowadays would know tons about computers but i still have some that get to me in 6th grade and don't know the first thing about them. So I agree that computers would be great, but iPads? for kindergartners? That is a bit extreme.

Also, they have done all these studies and many have found that the most effective classrooms are actually the ones that use very little to no technology. I think technology makes the teachers lives easier. It doesn't necessarily have a huge impact on the students.
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Of course, technology is just taking away a teachers ability or lack there of to teach. My friend was saying in 1-20 years children won't even know how to hold a pencil.
 
Dana said:
Of course, technology is just taking away a teachers ability or lack there of to teach. My friend was saying in 1-20 years children won't even know how to hold a pencil.
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technology is here, get used to the fact that a lot more things are indeed passe. check writing? gone. writing letters, gone...I do not think that we are going to be seeing writing gone forever it will still be used.
 
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