Pittsburgh school district mulls iBook program cuts
updated 02:30 pm EST, Thu March 25, 2004
School mulls iBook program
Quaker Valley School District officials in Pittsburgh (PA) are considering that provides about 1,700 laptops to third-graders through high school seniors, according to The Tribune-Review: "Officials said their options include providing the laptops only to students in the highest three or four grades, while using desktops for elementary grades. 'There is a question about whether younger students should have the responsibility of having their own computer,' district spokesman John Hanna said. Recent studies have found that younger students benefit less from having their own computers and that they frequently break or forget the equipment."
The article notes that "Quaker Valley was one of three Pennsylvania districts chosen to receive a $4.1 million technology grant in 2001. The district used part of the money to implement its laptop program, paying for the computers through a lease agreement. Quaker Valley invested another $2 million in the program after the grant money ran out Dec. 31."
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Joined: Mar 2004
3rd graders?
I think asking a 3rd grader to be responsible for a lunch box can be a big ask let alone their own computer. Who came up with this idea? What's a third grader going to use a computer for? Writing an essay? Researching a topic beyond simply looking up an encyclopaedia? What on earth does a 3rd grader need their own computer for that a couple of computers in a class room can't do (like play edutainment games)?