Anonymous
Post 08/29/2020 10:11     Subject: If you need a device but can afford one
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I"m surprised that my older elementary aged kids got Surface tablets from school rather than laptops. The devices are relatively small, which means the screens are small, which is not going to be great for 4 hours of Zoom a day.


Are you complaining about a free device??


Uh, it's not a toy and it's not a gift. It's the means through which her kids are going to be going to school this year. It's reasonable to question whether it will be adequate. A small screen could definitely make it hard, especially for an older elementary kid who will be doing a lot of math. I might also worry that a small device could be hard on their eyes or bad for posture (hunching over to look at the screen).

It's like being concerned that your kid can't see the board from their seat in the classroom, or that the school doesn't have safe P.E. equipment. It's a normal concern.


Your privilege is showing.


np: BS. The comments above have nothing to do with ‘privilege’ — unless privilege means having an adequate tool for the job.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2020 10:11     Subject: If you need a device but can afford one
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I"m surprised that my older elementary aged kids got Surface tablets from school rather than laptops. The devices are relatively small, which means the screens are small, which is not going to be great for 4 hours of Zoom a day.


Are you complaining about a free device??


Uh, it's not a toy and it's not a gift. It's the means through which her kids are going to be going to school this year. It's reasonable to question whether it will be adequate. A small screen could definitely make it hard, especially for an older elementary kid who will be doing a lot of math. I might also worry that a small device could be hard on their eyes or bad for posture (hunching over to look at the screen).

It's like being concerned that your kid can't see the board from their seat in the classroom, or that the school doesn't have safe P.E. equipment. It's a normal concern.

Thank you! Yes, and I hadn't even thought of the issues doing math. I was concerned with them not being able to connect with peers and teachers because everyone is so small on the screen that they can't see each other's facial expressions.


People need to get over themselves. Your kids have a device AND access to the internet. thousands of students in DCPS don't because the system can't manage logistics (shock).

It sucks but this isnt unique to DCPS. Every student in America is getting a small device in part due to cost and in part because not every student has room in their home for anything larger. Giving those with desks, instead of theri laps large monitors or oversized laptops makes no sense, not to mention that the larger the device the more powered it is for gaming and things they don't want kids doing.

And no one is going to do much connecting with peers right now. It is what it is.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2020 10:07     Subject: If you need a device but can afford one
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I"m surprised that my older elementary aged kids got Surface tablets from school rather than laptops. The devices are relatively small, which means the screens are small, which is not going to be great for 4 hours of Zoom a day.


Are you complaining about a free device??


Uh, it's not a toy and it's not a gift. It's the means through which her kids are going to be going to school this year. It's reasonable to question whether it will be adequate. A small screen could definitely make it hard, especially for an older elementary kid who will be doing a lot of math. I might also worry that a small device could be hard on their eyes or bad for posture (hunching over to look at the screen).

It's like being concerned that your kid can't see the board from their seat in the classroom, or that the school doesn't have safe P.E. equipment. It's a normal concern.

Thank you! Yes, and I hadn't even thought of the issues doing math. I was concerned with them not being able to connect with peers and teachers because everyone is so small on the screen that they can't see each other's facial expressions.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2020 09:49     Subject: If you need a device but can afford one
These explain more about what's going on. It's a damn mess.

https://www.the74million.org/article/somebody-has-to-do-something-as-d-c-scrambles-to-get-thousands-of-students-laptops-before-monday-start-of-school-many-parents-still-in-the-dark-if-their-kids-will-get-them-on-time/

https://twitter.com/tbridge777/status/1299394339680989191?s=20
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2020 09:30     Subject: Re:If you need a device but can afford one
This thread confuses me too. Based on the tech survey, we were led to believe that there would not be enough devices and, if it was possible, we should provide our own. We researched options, asked the school for suggestions, and made a decision based on best available information. I think the devices we got our kids will work well, but I am starting to second guess myself based on all the comments regarding what is and is not on the computer, tech help, etc. I thought we were helping the district by providing our own, but it sounds like no good deed goes unpunished.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2020 09:28     Subject: If you need a device but can afford one
Anonymous wrote:I"m surprised that my older elementary aged kids got Surface tablets from school rather than laptops. The devices are relatively small, which means the screens are small, which is not going to be great for 4 hours of Zoom a day.


You might also be surprised to know the surface tablets were distributed to middle school kids too, and maybe high school but I don't have high schoolers.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2020 09:09     Subject: If you need a device but can afford one
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I"m surprised that my older elementary aged kids got Surface tablets from school rather than laptops. The devices are relatively small, which means the screens are small, which is not going to be great for 4 hours of Zoom a day.


Are you complaining about a free device??


Uh, it's not a toy and it's not a gift. It's the means through which her kids are going to be going to school this year. It's reasonable to question whether it will be adequate. A small screen could definitely make it hard, especially for an older elementary kid who will be doing a lot of math. I might also worry that a small device could be hard on their eyes or bad for posture (hunching over to look at the screen).

It's like being concerned that your kid can't see the board from their seat in the classroom, or that the school doesn't have safe P.E. equipment. It's a normal concern.


Your privilege is showing.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2020 09:05     Subject: If you need a device but can afford one
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I"m surprised that my older elementary aged kids got Surface tablets from school rather than laptops. The devices are relatively small, which means the screens are small, which is not going to be great for 4 hours of Zoom a day.


Are you complaining about a free device??


Uh, it's not a toy and it's not a gift. It's the means through which her kids are going to be going to school this year. It's reasonable to question whether it will be adequate. A small screen could definitely make it hard, especially for an older elementary kid who will be doing a lot of math. I might also worry that a small device could be hard on their eyes or bad for posture (hunching over to look at the screen).

It's like being concerned that your kid can't see the board from their seat in the classroom, or that the school doesn't have safe P.E. equipment. It's a normal concern.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2020 08:55     Subject: If you need a device but can afford one
Anonymous wrote:I"m surprised that my older elementary aged kids got Surface tablets from school rather than laptops. The devices are relatively small, which means the screens are small, which is not going to be great for 4 hours of Zoom a day.


Are you complaining about a free device??
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2020 08:51     Subject: If you need a device but can afford one
I"m surprised that my older elementary aged kids got Surface tablets from school rather than laptops. The devices are relatively small, which means the screens are small, which is not going to be great for 4 hours of Zoom a day.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2020 20:53     Subject: Re:If you need a device but can afford one
Anonymous wrote:Our charter said come pick up a chrome book if you don’t have one. No need to know who has the means or not. We went and got a new chrome book for my DC who will be starting 1st grade. We know nothing about chrome books.

It’s great because the school can upload everything, the account for DC is from the school and log in same as school provided apps we got so easy. Attended a very informative zoom session on general basics of chrome book, goggle classroom, etc.... Planning on attending another session this week more specific to the schools curriculum, etc...

We can afford to buy a chrome book but did not have to. They had enough for everyone. It makes life a lot easier and seamless not having to figure things out, up,old things, etc...


Typo meant upload things
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2020 20:51     Subject: Re:If you need a device but can afford one
Our charter said come pick up a chrome book if you don’t have one. No need to know who has the means or not. We went and got a new chrome book for my DC who will be starting 1st grade. We know nothing about chrome books.

It’s great because the school can upload everything, the account for DC is from the school and log in same as school provided apps we got so easy. Attended a very informative zoom session on general basics of chrome book, goggle classroom, etc.... Planning on attending another session this week more specific to the schools curriculum, etc...

We can afford to buy a chrome book but did not have to. They had enough for everyone. It makes life a lot easier and seamless not having to figure things out, up,old things, etc...
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2020 15:20     Subject: Re:If you need a device but can afford one
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I've read this whole thread and am more confused than ever. We requested a device via the tech survey but have heard nothing from our school. I have heard from my child's teacher that there will be a pickup day next week but have no other details. I have purposely not pestered them about it because I know they are scrambling to get everything ready for all the students and I don't want to make it harder. But at this point our plan is for my child to dial in using my work computer (which is ancient and also in need of replacing, but I have been putting it off), since I'll be supervising her DL anyway. But obviously that means I cannot work while she is in a lesson.

If we absolutely had to stretch and buy a device, we could do it, though I would really prefer not to as money is tight right now. I feel guilty about it though because I know there are students at my child's school whose need is greater. If it's a question of not having enough to go around, I wish they'd say that and we would figure something out, perhaps we could find a deal somewhere on a refurbished device or find a family member who could hand one down.

On the other hand, we know numerous families at charters whose kids are being provided a device without even having to request one -- they are just giving devices to all students. These are parents who definitely have more means than we do, and in some cases actually already have devices for their children they can use, but are being given a school-provided device anyway.

I do not understand why there is so much variation within the same school system. I mean, I know why, but it makes me angry. I don't blame our school or the teachers or the charters. But this system is so, so broken.



The best thing to do is call the school


I did. No response.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2020 15:01     Subject: Re:If you need a device but can afford one
Anonymous wrote:I've read this whole thread and am more confused than ever. We requested a device via the tech survey but have heard nothing from our school. I have heard from my child's teacher that there will be a pickup day next week but have no other details. I have purposely not pestered them about it because I know they are scrambling to get everything ready for all the students and I don't want to make it harder. But at this point our plan is for my child to dial in using my work computer (which is ancient and also in need of replacing, but I have been putting it off), since I'll be supervising her DL anyway. But obviously that means I cannot work while she is in a lesson.

If we absolutely had to stretch and buy a device, we could do it, though I would really prefer not to as money is tight right now. I feel guilty about it though because I know there are students at my child's school whose need is greater. If it's a question of not having enough to go around, I wish they'd say that and we would figure something out, perhaps we could find a deal somewhere on a refurbished device or find a family member who could hand one down.

On the other hand, we know numerous families at charters whose kids are being provided a device without even having to request one -- they are just giving devices to all students. These are parents who definitely have more means than we do, and in some cases actually already have devices for their children they can use, but are being given a school-provided device anyway.

I do not understand why there is so much variation within the same school system. I mean, I know why, but it makes me angry. I don't blame our school or the teachers or the charters. But this system is so, so broken.



The best thing to do is call the school
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2020 14:39     Subject: If you need a device but can afford one
totally agree and in the same boat - I wish they would just come out and say it either way.