Maine: An iPad for every Kindergartener

They were going to do a similar program here in New Brunswick but (Thank God) when our new provincial government was elected, that was one of the first things to be squashed !!

A child who is deemed to have "special needs" will still qualify for a laptop computer but I'm thankful the program was dropped before too much time or money was invested in it.

Gone are the days when kids can read, write and do math without the use of technology <sigh>
 
I went on a "model school" tour recently and was completely turned off by how they showcased all the "stuff." Since I don't get into schools much anymore, I was interested in how the teachers and staff made it a "model school" - their backgrounds, their techniques, achievements and goals, maybe an introduction or two. Except for the obligatory, "we have an excellent staff of teachers and support personnel here at..." and a few nods while passing in the halls, there was no acknowledgement of the PEOPLE.

Much of today's society is so focused on stuff (although I think the importance of relationships is being rediscovered.) I feel like it's the school system's way of trying to "impress" parents. "Look at all this great stuff we have! Your kids are going to be so successful!" :roll:
 
We have a few schools giving children iPads, many of them allowed to take them home. I question the wisdom of giving young children such an expensive piece of technology to be responsible for.

I allow my 6 and 7 year olds to use mine but only when I'm right there. It can be a great educational tool. It can also be a very expensive piece of broken garbage if mishandled.

With all of the schools crying about how little money they have for basics and with students having to share books or having to use books repaired with duct tape at some schools, I think money could be better spent.
 
Jackie said:
And they wonder why they can't balance the budget....
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Dont know any specifics about the economy in Maine, but I would assume that they're doing well, if they can afford to give every child an ipad...

Is it improving the scores dramatically?? At what cost?? Are all these little children going to end up with carpal tunnel and bad vision by the time they're 20??
 
MomToMusketeers said:
Is it improving the scores dramatically?? At what cost?? Are all these little children going to end up with carpal tunnel and bad vision by the time they're 20??
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Not to mention that if that's on what they learn to type, they'll struggle on an actual keyboard.

Some smaller, underfunded schools in MO have gone this route because it's actually cheaper for them to buy a class set of iPads and the rights to virtual texts than it is to buy books, even giving the cost of replacing broken ones throughout the year.
 
Actressdancer said:
Some smaller, underfunded schools in MO have gone this route because it's actually cheaper for them to buy a class set of iPads and the rights to virtual texts than it is to buy books, even giving the cost of replacing broken ones throughout the year.
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Then something is really broken!!! I mean, I just looked at the cost of one of those things. What I'm reading is between $400 and $500, EACH. Even at a deal, it's at least $200 each. Surely textbooks are less than $200 each!!! And yes, I KNOW how much it costs to buy a college text book, but even so.... Someone is being ripped off!!!
 
Jackie said:
Then something is really broken!!! I mean, I just looked at the cost of one of those things. What I'm reading is between $400 and $500, EACH. Even at a deal, it's at least $200 each. Surely textbooks are less than $200 each!!! And yes, I KNOW how much it costs to buy a college text book, but even so.... Someone is being ripped off!!!
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What I read in the newspaper is that one school got the iPads for roughly $200 each. Their textbooks cost between $100 and $150 each. Times 5-6 subjects. They only pay about $15 each for the digital versions per year and then they are always the most up-to-date. Plus the iPad follows the students from year to year so for those who don't break them or leave the school, it's a one-time expense. Parents are also charge an increasing replacement fee (not full price, just a fine) each time their child loses/breaks it.

Schools that are especially impoverished can apply to get the digital texts free through Amazon scholarships.

Also, my kiddos have dropped ours quite a few times and it's yet to break. I think their tougher than some might think. No, not indestructible, but dang tough.

Having said all that: I'd still rather a child use actual books.
 
I see! One Ipad, compared to five text books. Stiill, are the kids suppose to return them at the end of the year?
 
Jackie said:
I see! One Ipad, compared to five text books. Stiill, are the kids suppose to return them at the end of the year?
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If memory serves, the one school featured in the article assigned them to the student specifically. There was something about returning them for 'updates' over the Summer break then they were passed back out to the kids in August. At least that's the impression I got. This is the first year they're using them. I'm sure the logistics will change as the years go on (as logistics are known to do).

This reminds me of the college in the town where I graduated (Grove City College). My junior year of high school (Fall of 1994) the college made national news for their new laptop program. Every freshman was issued a laptop. Keep in mind that in 1994 laptops were rare and costly. The laptop belonged to the student. But if the student dropped out or transferred, they had to repay the cost of the laptop. You couldn't opt out; every student had to receive a laptop. It was a BIG deal. To my knowledge, as recently as 5 years ago, they still did the laptop program.
 
Grove City in Pennsylvania? I've heard some really good things about that place!!!

The kids at dh's school can't bring a pencil to class, let alone an Ipod! (Of course, they ALL have cell phones....) And then there's the issue of stealing them. Some schools the program would work better than others, but those are the schools where the majority of the kids could afford them outright.
 
I am actually in aww of the nifty techy stuff the school has. I really really wanna see the smartboards and the nifty stuff the music teacher does. Schools here are not going ipad routes but I think 80% of the children here have iTouches or even iPhones. Just regular phones for those under 10 it seems. Its just the way of the world now days. gone are the books and paper.

when I was in Maine the big OMG was giving the middle schoolers laptops. They started with letting the kids take them home and stuff but after a few negatives they just had little SD drives to bring home to use on their PCs and only children who didn't have access to acomputer were able to take a laptop home on the weekends. this was four years ago.
 
My kdis ps school had little laptops where the kids did certain math and LA tests...They had the cool smartboard thing, which replaces a whiteboard. But I didnt see it make any difference in the quality of education. I think they do better with my low-tech methods at home. It's all in the hands of the teachers and curriculum, rather than the tools used.

And again, I will say, isnt anyone thinking about the repurcussions of using computers on a daily basis? Carpal tunnel, inflamed tendons, poor eyesight, etc...
 
I don't have a web cam but hubby's netbook does, when I'm on it, I'm very aware someone could remotely control it. LOL Freaks me out!
 
Maybe I'm being a little odd with this, and taking my thinking too far...but.....

What about parents who don't know much about technology? Will they be able to crack into their kids' IPad and check out what they are learning about? Why to K's need Ipad's? What books does a kinder bring home that they need to store? (I didn't read the article...so....yea) I have a Kindle and I don't use it much, but it is cheaper to get book on there than using the gas to go to and from the library and remembering to bring them back and so on, but we still go for the kids. I dunno, I think that it's another way children separate from their parents in a way. "Ugh, Mom you're so uncool don't you know this is an iPad, duh! All my books are on it, Duh! No, I don't wanna show you how it works, Sheesh!!" I was a teen not so very long ago. Technology moves very quickly and I think it's easy for some parents to get lost in the constant wave, unless you are a very up to date parent in which case please tell me how you can afford to be!! lol. Just my two cents..

OH, and I don't know who mentioned it above, but I cannot CANNOT type on a regular keyboard. I am dreadfully slow. I can only type on a laptop computer. So, whoever said it above is right. It happens.
 
I really dont see how a Kindergardener could possibly need an Ipad, but I have to say I have a kindle and my daughter watches documentaries on it and it is really nice. But I dont think she will need anything that hightech on a day to day basis for a very long time.
 
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