SAS parents~what do you think the new laptop policy in high shcool

[$Pripps]

I agree, we're trying to have a serious discussion here.  Perhaps your 'humor' is better served on another topic?

To Tropical Fish:  I agree the best idea is to try to approach administration with your concerns.  What if you and the other parents wrote a letter or called for a meeting to discuss?

or just ignore the post as is the norm by obnoxious posts.. oh wait.

[ACSI]

Well the local schools are doing it too and I know at least one parent who was hopping mad that her computer-game addicted son just had more avenues to indulge his obsession.

I'd write a petition and circulate it among the parents of my child's class. SAS is probably being socially pressured into it.

[block?]

If companies can block employee access to sites like You Tube & Facebook while employees are on their network, surely the school can also block access to those kinds of sites. But, ultimately, it will be on the teachers' shoulders to keep students on task during class --- which really isn't all that much different than now, is it?

[Tropical Fish]

OP: I have no opinion on this and I am not an SAS parent, but I would nonetheless be interested to read scientific studies (rather than journalists' syntheses) about laptop use in schools. Could you list some of the studies within this "accumulated research" you refer to that you found most useful in forming your own opinion?
 
I imagine SAS parents would also wish to read them (in addition to the - presumably conflicting - studies that the school has relied on) before forming their view.
 
Thanks.

http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2008/10/why-i-ban-laptops-in-my-classroom/

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/04/education/04laptop.html

[Tropical Fish]

Even though this is an old article, but it has a very good point of view...just to share..

http://news.cnet.com/2009-1023-5103805.html

[Tropical Fish]

A point of view from a high school teacher in US...just to share

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/22_04/lapt224.shtml

[scarbowl]

To Tropical Fish:  why not take it up with Administration?

  When I was in school I don't recall the school asking parents what they thought kids should be learning or what they needed in order to do so.  The school just informed parents and students.  They know what is required to teach and learn their curriculum.  Why ask non-educators about education - should they teach evolution because a few parents believe it correct despite the lack of scientific evidence? 

It seems to me that most students (again, at least at UWC) already have laptops.  It has become as essential to students as iPods and mobile phones. Students have particular tools for school - books, calculators, pens, and now a laptop.   What is unusual about that?  This requirement is spreading around the world  and you would deny your child this opportunity? Maybe you don't want your child using the internet but, if so, you're not doing them any favors.

Instead of a knee-jerk reaction to oppose it, why not find out the function of the laptop.  I recall being required to buy a scientific calculator.  Would my parents get upset at that?  Of course, not.  It was an essential tool of education.  I suspect the same is now true of laptops.

Also, you can obtain insurance for theft or damage if you're worried about that.

I doubt your statement that so many parents are opposed.  Maybe you're just opinionated and they don't want to argue with you.   If SAS is like other western schools, parents want their children to receive the best education possible and if a laptop is required then so be it. 

Basically, though, you're just complaining without any evidence to support you, without any apparent conversation with the school, and then go on to suggest lots of bad decisions again without any evidence.

Perhaps you could use a laptop to education yourself!

[another point]

If they want all kids to use laptops they should provide them. I reckon it is cost cutting. If they did this they could also easily restrict access to undesireable sites.

Also it promotes other undesirebale stuff, oh you have some cheap chinese junk, I have an alienware.

Do they specify operating systems?

Overall its a joke, they should want same hardware, software etc and provide themselves even if it means a minor fee hike. This would also mean less vulnerability to viruses infecting their networks.

[proper channels]

I'm not an SAS parent but my youngest has used a laptop since the start of senior school, at the teachers' suggestion, because of  dyslexia and handwriting issues. Speeded up his note-taking and written assignments hugely. You do need a laptop which is small, light and with very long battery life or they have to mess about plugging in cables and starting up at the beginning of classes. Also needs to be compatible with school network and it's easy for administrators to block or record some sites. Seniors should have enough self-discipline to deal with that.
I find suggestions of circulating petitions etc immature - write to the appropriate head of school with your concerns and take it from there.

[To Scarbowl]

"Perhaps you could use a laptop to education yourself!" - Just checking - joke or oops?

Do you have kids? Do you have any idea how easily distracted they are at any time? And unless you give them laptops with the world's most basic & unfun software, most of their time will be taken up with everything but work, looking for the shortest of shortcuts in research & inevitably dropping them on the floor/pouring coke on them or just getting them nicked or losing them.

If the school makes it compulsory, the school should also take the responsibility!

[ffs]

If the school makes it compulsory, the school should also take the responsibility!

Yes, right, because we certainly don't want to teach teenagers to be responsible for themselves, their actions or their belongings 

What is wrong with you people?? These kids are all going to head off to university somewhere where, shock and horrors, they will need to have their own laptop. And after that, they will get jobs where they will need to use a laptop or some kind of computer. Get a grip, we are not far off from a time when all their text books will be digital and they'll not be carrying any books around either. It's been said already, but the school will be able to block websites students don't need to be spending school time on  -- why is this such a difficult thing for some of you to process? Some of you sound like you are just anti-change. Or maybe you're just afraid you're going to have to keep a closer eye on what your kids are up to?? Well, news flash, if you're not paying attention to the details now, you've got bigger problems on the horizon & a laptop in school is the least of your worries.

[To ffs an Scarbowl]

The two of you are talking sense (I suspect you are teachers from another school ).  What's with the thick mob-style attitudes of some fools on here? It sounds like your school is actually trying to improve the quality of delivery in classrooms and you're up in arms You need to get a grip.  I'm sure that laptops won't be the be-all-and-end-all of lessons and that the multiple intelligences of your children will be catered for.  There are just so many IT tools to engage learners these days that it's handy (and will soon be essential in International schools) to have multimedia at your fingertips rather than a pre-booked half an hour in a school's computer room.  As for theft and breakages - well that's just something that these young adults will have to learn to take responsibility for isn't it.  They can't have mummy and daddy, auntie or uncle wrapping them up in cotton wool all their lives.
As for parents not having influence in big decisions that the schools make - unlucky! Teachers and administrators are professionals who, whether you like it or not, generally know what's best for their schools.  They don't cherrypick their research from google, but make informed decisions about the best way to take their school forward. Deal with it.

[scarbowl]

"Perhaps you could use a laptop to education yourself!" - Just checking - joke or oops?

Do you have kids? Do you have any idea how easily distracted they are at any time? And unless you give them laptops with the world's most basic & unfun software, most of their time will be taken up with everything but work, looking for the shortest of shortcuts in research & inevitably dropping them on the floor/pouring coke on them or just getting them nicked or losing them.

If the school makes it compulsory, the school should also take the responsibility!

  Yes, I have a child.  And he has a laptop!  Just imagine that!  And he uses it for research, writing, film editing, and, undoubtedly for Facebook and other distractions as well.

And here you are on a social networking site of your own!  I hope you aren't wasting time on this.

My son is learning to be an adult, to take responsibility for completing his work, and to limit his indulgences.  If it wasn't a laptop to divert him it would be the television or the telephone or just hanging out with other kids.   There's nothing new about this dynamic.

I don't think you understand education today and perhaps you don't understand kids though you seem to have them.  Having a laptop today is like having a bicycle used to be - a toy and a tool that everyone had.  (I used to bicycle to school.)   I can't imagine why you are so opposed to this or believe it won't be used productively.  Have some faith in your kids or use this to teach them something.   

[laptop]

I think it's about time high-schoolers should have their own computers and take responsibilities doing their school work. All sort of distraction should be monitored by parents. Just like giving them cell phone or other gadgets. Give them at the right time, not too soon or too late.

my 2 cents.

[SAS Parent]

"Perhaps you could use a laptop to education yourself!" - Just checking - joke or oops?

Do you have kids? Do you have any idea how easily distracted they are at any time? And unless you give them laptops with the world's most basic & unfun software, most of their time will be taken up with everything but work, looking for the shortest of shortcuts in research & inevitably dropping them on the floor/pouring coke on them or just getting them nicked or losing them.

If the school makes it compulsory, the school should also take the responsibility!

  Yes, I have a child.  And he has a laptop!  Just imagine that!  And he uses it for research, writing, film editing, and, undoubtedly for Facebook and other distractions as well.

And here you are on a social networking site of your own!  I hope you aren't wasting time on this.

My son is learning to be an adult, to take responsibility for completing his work, and to limit his indulgences.  If it wasn't a laptop to divert him it would be the television or the telephone or just hanging out with other kids.   There's nothing new about this dynamic.

I don't think you understand education today and perhaps you don't understand kids though you seem to have them.  Having a laptop today is like having a bicycle used to be - a toy and a tool that everyone had.  (I used to bicycle to school.)   I can't imagine why you are so opposed to this or believe it won't be used productively.  Have some faith in your kids or use this to teach them something.   

I guess what is confusing to me Scarbowl and the others is that you are equating laptop usage or having your own laptop to a school's mandatory laptop policy?  They are two totally different things.  I haven't heard anyone here make the argument that all laptop usage is bad for teens.

Were people riding bicycles in class in your day Scarbowl?  Using their bikes to cheat on exams?  Shop for Prom dresses during a geometry lesson?  Isn't there value in teaching our students how to unplug for an hour and not have 7 windows open at once  as well?

I'm not really for or against the policy, I'm against it being rolled out without any input from a parent population that finds itself more financially challenged than ever (and this while tuition is going up).   I'd like to hear more valid research from both sides.  As someone who pays very dearly for their children to attend SAS, it is my right to have the opportunity to learn about new initiatives before they become set in stone.  This is the one of the lynchpins in the American educational process and an idea so important it is written into the policies of the school board.

And I am on this site, yes -- but after my work is done.