APS parents -- are you happy about the MacBooks and iPads? Unhappy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
WTH. As a taxpayer in Arlington with two kids, I find this plan really wasteful and short sighted. I do not think that my young kids need something that I or my husband have managed to live w/o. They could have easily purchased a much more cost effective device/computer but for some insane reason went w/ Apple.

We purposely have chosen not to expose our kids to these type of gadgets and now one person decides every kid in Arlington "needs" one.

The rest of us keeping up with the times should not have to suffer for your peculiar outlook on this. What kind of parent "purposefully chooses not to 'expose'" children to technology? You almost sound as if you think this is virtuous or something.

Exactly why is it peculiar? Because it's different from yours?
Kids today get plenty of exposure to technology; schools don't need to be teaching it to them in the early grades. If anything, schools should be focused more on traditional skills like reading and writing, which kids aren't doing as much of because they're so busy playing on various types of screens.

To me, this whole iPad thing sounds like someone's vanity project.

It's peculiar because it is antiquated, conservative, and change-averse. These will be very effective tools for learning and sharing of information.

You must vote Republican?

That's not me, and I am a Democrat, but I agree with that poster.

I am speaking against them at the school board meeting Thursday night.

[Anonymous]

I limit the use of technology at home because both my kids turn into assholes and zombies when they are on devices and I don't want them staring at a screen all day long.

There's no substitute for a good teacher.

[Anonymous]

My taxpayer's money bought every single high schooler in Arlington a Mac book Air? Wow!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
WTH. As a taxpayer in Arlington with two kids, I find this plan really wasteful and short sighted. I do not think that my young kids need something that I or my husband have managed to live w/o. They could have easily purchased a much more cost effective device/computer but for some insane reason went w/ Apple.

We purposely have chosen not to expose our kids to these type of gadgets and now one person decides every kid in Arlington "needs" one.

The rest of us keeping up with the times should not have to suffer for your peculiar outlook on this. What kind of parent "purposefully chooses not to 'expose'" children to technology? You almost sound as if you think this is virtuous or something.

Exactly why is it peculiar? Because it's different from yours?
Kids today get plenty of exposure to technology; schools don't need to be teaching it to them in the early grades. If anything, schools should be focused more on traditional skills like reading and writing, which kids aren't doing as much of because they're so busy playing on various types of screens.

To me, this whole iPad thing sounds like someone's vanity project.


It's peculiar because it is antiquated, conservative, and change-averse. These will be very effective tools for learning and sharing of information.

You must vote Republican?

That's not me, and I am a Democrat, but I agree with that poster.

I am speaking against them at the school board meeting Thursday night.

Anyone else planning on doing this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:



Anonymous wrote:
WTH. As a taxpayer in Arlington with two kids, I find this plan really wasteful and short sighted. I do not think that my young kids need something that I or my husband have managed to live w/o. They could have easily purchased a much more cost effective device/computer but for some insane reason went w/ Apple.

We purposely have chosen not to expose our kids to these type of gadgets and now one person decides every kid in Arlington "needs" one.

The rest of us keeping up with the times should not have to suffer for your peculiar outlook on this. What kind of parent "purposefully chooses not to 'expose'" children to technology? You almost sound as if you think this is virtuous or something.

Exactly why is it peculiar? Because it's different from yours?
Kids today get plenty of exposure to technology; schools don't need to be teaching it to them in the early grades. If anything, schools should be focused more on traditional skills like reading and writing, which kids aren't doing as much of because they're so busy playing on various types of screens.

To me, this whole iPad thing sounds like someone's vanity project.


It's peculiar because it is antiquated, conservative, and change-averse. These will be very effective tools for learning and sharing of information.

You must vote Republican?

That's not me, and I am a Democrat, but I agree with that poster.

I am speaking against them at the school board meeting Thursday night.

Anyone else planning on doing this?

Another parent from my school is also planning on speaking.

[Anonymous]

I am concerned about the radiation exposure. ipad use may have harmful effects on kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My taxpayer's money bought every single high schooler in Arlington a Mac book Air? Wow!

Every 9th grader. (Not theirs to keep, but theirs to use this year at least - remains to be seen what they do with this "pilot program" after this year.)

[Anonymous]

It does seem shortsighted. Did he also budget for IT support at each school? What happens when something breaks, or needs an update? And what safeguards are going to be in place to make sure students aren't downloading anything unsavory or illegal and then bringing it back to school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My taxpayer's money bought every single high schooler in Arlington a Mac book Air? Wow!

No, your taxpayer money bought computers for use by students, just as they do every year and have for over a decade. They're not GIVING the kids a laptop to keep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am concerned about the radiation exposure. ipad use may have harmful effects on kids.

They won't be connected to wifi except when they are being updated or if a student is using an app that requires wifi. This was all explained by the head of IT at the middle school orientations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It does seem shortsighted. Did he also budget for IT support at each school? What happens when something breaks, or needs an update? And what safeguards are going to be in place to make sure students aren't downloading anything unsavory or illegal and then bringing it back to school?

They have already upgraded the wifi. There is IT support at each school already and having fewer components/platforms makes it easier for them to maintain all the equipment. The school is responsible for breakage and will do all updates--students can't download or update any apps on the machines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

They have already upgraded the wifi. There is IT support at each school already and having fewer components/platforms makes it easier for them to maintain all the equipment. The school is responsible for breakage and will do all updates--students can't download or update any apps on the machines.

Not with the MacBooks. If you break yours, you have to pony up $730 or you can't graduate.

If all the device is is a way to the cloud, why Macs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My taxpayer's money bought every single high schooler in Arlington a Mac book Air? Wow!

Every 9th grader. (Not theirs to keep, but theirs to use this year at least - remains to be seen what they do with this "pilot program" after this year.)

So the 10th graders, 11th graders and 12 graders don't have any?? That was a strange choice. If you give it to only one class, would you not give it to your Seniors or Juniors?

I really do feel that the people in the SB do whatever they want to do personally. They make it appear as if this is not the case; by asking the residents in their surveys, if they would rather scrap this or that program. "We don't have money for all of this."
Then one of them goes out and buys the most expensive laptops on the market for all 9th graders in Arlington. Can't take the surveys seriously anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am concerned about the radiation exposure. ipad use may have harmful effects on kids.

They won't be connected to wifi except when they are being updated or if a student is using an app that requires wifi. This was all explained by the head of IT at the middle school orientations.

OK. That's somewhat reassuring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
WTH. As a taxpayer in Arlington with two kids, I find this plan really wasteful and short sighted. I do not think that my young kids need something that I or my husband have managed to live w/o. They could have easily purchased a much more cost effective device/computer but for some insane reason went w/ Apple.

We purposely have chosen not to expose our kids to these type of gadgets and now one person decides every kid in Arlington "needs" one.

The rest of us keeping up with the times should not have to suffer for your peculiar outlook on this. What kind of parent "purposefully chooses not to 'expose'" children to technology? You almost sound as if you think this is virtuous or something.

Exactly why is it peculiar? Because it's different from yours?
Kids today get plenty of exposure to technology; schools don't need to be teaching it to them in the early grades. If anything, schools should be focused more on traditional skills like reading and writing, which kids aren't doing as much of because they're so busy playing on various types of screens.

To me, this whole iPad thing sounds like someone's vanity project.

Amen, amen .