Laptops distributed to Farmington middle schoolers

Osvaldo Acosta, far right, a sixth-grade student at Hermosa Middle School, picks up an Apple MacBook from Piedra Vista High School on Monday afternoon.

[hazard]

What a great program for the kids!
I hope Aztec and Bloomfield will follow.

[jessica]

this is just plain ridiculous.. How is it that all of us made it through our high school careers with out a laptop and now they are handing them out to freakin 6th graders... I heard about teachers at Mesa Verde Elementary recommending them! Where is the funding coming for these computers? I think its absurd, I just know I'm going to drive by Starbucks one day and see a group of 10 year old obese children typing on lap tops, talking on cell phones and drinking their 5 dollar lattes.. It creeps me out.

[Dan]

1880's graduate-This is ridiculous, how is we that we made it through classes using chalkboard and chalk? Now they use pencils and paper! It's absurd!

1930's graduate- You mean they get to use disposable pens now? They will never know the responsibility of maintaining their inkwell and nib pen. It's absurd!

1970's graduate- You mean they get to use TYPEWRITERS now? They will never know the pain of having to rewrite their essays multiple times. How will they learn perseverance? It's absurd!

What creeps me out is the attitude Jessica is displaying...The computer is the next generation's tool just like the chalkboard, pen, and typewriter was for previous generations. Time doesn't stand still, and neither should our schools.

[parent of students]

Dan wrote:

1880's graduate-This is ridiculous, how is we that we made it through classes using chalkboard and chalk? Now they use pencils and paper! It's absurd!
1930's graduate- You mean they get to use disposable pens now? They will never know the responsibility of maintaining their inkwell and nib pen. It's absurd!
1970's graduate- You mean they get to use TYPEWRITERS now? They will never know the pain of having to rewrite their essays multiple times. How will they learn perseverance? It's absurd!
What creeps me out is the attitude Jessica is displaying...The computer is the next generation's tool just like the chalkboard, pen, and typewriter was for previous generations. Time doesn't stand still, and neither should our schools.

That was hilarious! I was really nervouse about my kids getting laptops because they are not that responsible, but after hearing about the 100 max and that it will have major security on it so they cannot access certain web sites, I am thrilled.
Save the trees no more text books!

[Tookie]

My oldest starts this program this year. At first, I thought it was a bad idea, giving 11 year olds laptops, and expecting them to care for them. But the program itself has amazing learning possibilities. One of the things mentioned is that as the program progresses, assignments will be online. So if a child is out ill, or for an appointment, they can catch up the missing homework before they even return to school, saving days of work. The laptops are designed for learning, and will benefit that.

It wont make kids lazy, it wont make them fat. Responsible parents are all that are needed to keep kids in check.

[Saint_]

Jessica, Reality Check is right, this isn't the past, and these kids have to get ready for the future. That means computers.

You didn't learn to type until high school, but you know how important that is now, because you are sitting in front of a keyboard yourself.

Why wouldn't we want these kids to pick up those basic skills ASAP? Oh, and the old encyclopedias you used to use to wrote your school reports? They've been replaced by "Google" and you need a laptop to access them.

"If God had meant men to fly he'd have given them wings" was the rallying cry of those fearful of progress in the past. Some things don't seem to change.

[Ell]

jessica wrote:

this is just plain ridiculous.. How is it that all of us made it through our high school careers with out a laptop and now they are handing them out to freakin 6th graders... I heard about teachers at Mesa Verde Elementary recommending them! Where is the funding coming for these computers? I think its absurd, I just know I'm going to drive by Starbucks one day and see a group of 10 year old obese children typing on lap tops, talking on cell phones and drinking their 5 dollar lattes..
It creeps me out.

What an idiot. You creep me out.

[notalotaharmony]

Central Consolidated school "destruct" was one of the first to offer laptops to high school students in Shiprock, Kirtland and Newcomb starting about three yrs. ago. Now, they've YANKED THEM BACK and eliminated the program ....
Why? According to one of the computer techs, it related to quite a bit of damage being done to the computers, and having to police all the things they were trying to access online and download.
REMEMBER, although letting mid schoolers use laptops gratis compliments of the school sounds great and all and makes a district look good, these students and their parents sign a usage agreement -- THE ENFORCEMENT OF WHICH is a nightmare for whomever gets stuck with the task! ANd then when kids encounter the firewalls built in, they may get angry enough to damage the computers just out of frustration for not being able to access something they shouldn't ... any thoughts?

[just_nobody]

It's a great idea and hope it makes it's way into all districs, Bloomfield,Aztec so on. My only concern is will the schools teach what the computer replaces. Add divide,spell [get a good idea! i can't spell either]and so on. I hope like the Calculator, when introduced, to students who could do what it did, then they get to use. I hope this program does the same, cause if they cannot do it, or do NOT have an idea how. Then it's not really replacing anything is it? I'm pro education and love the fact our kids finaly get what they need for this furture, but don't allow them to forget how to do it, without it. It's a tool, not a cruch. No I'm in no way saying a student needs to learn to SEARCH or look up history. This can be done IRL, but a computer makes it quicker, it replaces nothing, but speed. Just classes that pertain to formulas,"I before E except after C, that kind of manual education prior to computers. Hope you all understand my point.

[Saint_]

notalotaharmony wrote:

Central Consolidated school "destruct" was one of the first to offer laptops to high school students in Shiprock, Kirtland and Newcomb starting about three yrs. ago. Now, they've YANKED THEM BACK and eliminated the program ....

Well software has progressed mightily after three years, maybe the new firewalls are safer?

REMEMBER, although letting mid schoolers use laptops gratis compliments of the school sounds great and all and makes a district look good, these students and their parents sign a usage agreement -- THE ENFORCEMENT OF WHICH is a nightmare for whomever gets stuck with the task! ANd then when kids encounter the firewalls built in, they may get angry enough to damage the computers just out of frustration for not being able to access something they shouldn't ... any thoughts?

What's the difference between fining a student or parent for damage to a textbook as opposed to a computer? Schools have done that for decades. You don't pay the fine, you don't graduate and that fine follows you electronically to any other district in the US.

Truth is, enforcement is easier than ever these days, thanks to computers.

[Saint_]

Ok, I'll buy that, but from the filters that I've worked with, it's pretty difficult today to get around them and schools have the best filters available.

Personally, I'll be "pron" is much more accessible to most of these kids at their friend's house, on the home laptop, or even on cable.

[just_nobody]

Saint_ wrote:

Ok, I'll buy that, but from the filters that I've worked with, it's pretty difficult today to get around them and schools have the best filters available.
Personally, I'll be "pron" is much more accessible to most of these kids at their friend's house, on the home laptop, or even on cable.

Give some of us a break, a text book ,well even a real poor family can pay back in pmts, computers are a tad out of our income league, and paying for one even at 100 bucks, will hurt, some a lot more than others. They deserve them, don't get me wrong, but cost does have it's place in the mix to. Ok. They have yet to build an indestructable portable computer. Bullies can still play frisbi with them at any given time. Big family means more than one to worry about, or pay for.
As far as firewalls?? My son knows far more than I. So I cannot and will not say any thing about it. I don't know that.I do however know what is affordable to families, with one or MORE kids, with a school computer. Did the article state or even give a clue as to who [company] will be responsable for repair and tune-ups, upkeep, will the school take care of updates to software? I just hope they left room to learn from there own mistakes, instead of blaming the kids, at cost.

[Saint_]

Actually, you brought up some very good points, JN. Expensive equipment is riskier for poor families, of which there are many in San Juan County, than they are for richer families.

Should we allow poor families to"opt out" of computer literacy and training and just use good old books?

Wouldn't that doom the poor kids to a continuous cycle of poverty? When they go to get a job and the rich kid is computer literate, but the poor kid isn't, how does that help them?

Isn't it true that rich kids will have computers anyway and it's the poor kids that will only get one if the schools hand them out?

If we are to break that cycle of poverty and make sure that the poor kids have a chance to rise above their situation, don't we have to give them an even chance?

Let's give the poor the chance they need to break free, and if the "bully" frisbees one, we'll deal with that on a case-by-case basis.

[just_nobody]

Saint_ wrote:

Actually, you brought up some very good points, JN. Expensive equipment is riskier for poor families, of which there are many in San Juan County, than they are for richer families.
Should we allow poor families to"opt out" of computer literacy and training and just use good old books?
Wouldn't that doom the poor kids to a continuous cycle of poverty? When they go to get a job and the rich kid is computer literate, but the poor kid isn't, how does that help them?
Isn't it true that rich kids will have computers anyway and it's the poor kids that will only get one if the schools hand them out?
If we are to break that cycle of poverty and make sure that the poor kids have a chance to rise above their situation, don't we have to give them an even chance?
Let's give the poor the chance they need to break free, and if the "bully" frisbees one, we'll deal with that on a case-by-case basis.

My intention was not to remove them from poorer students, but to assess fines to fit the family, not a S.O.P. style of penalties. Other than that your correct, it is a needed item, but lets try trial and error, before setting rules and regs set in stone. So rich or poor, can afford, to make a mistake, while ALL learn the same, from there computers.

Question if a student is found to have a natural knack for tech, will they be advanced to challange them, instead of boring them? This is a question for the schools tech dept, but answers from the public are welcome also. I take it if there are updates to software, the school will download, and return it to the students. I hope.

[Dan2]

I understand the frustration of those families who are poorer and can identify. I have 3 boys of my own. However, I see "poor" families complaining about their finances often. Usually those doing the complaining drive a better vehicle than I do, eat out constantly, and HAVE to have THE current "in-thing".

A $25 usage fee for access to a world of information is NOTHING when put into the hands of a child who is taught how to harness that power. As a parent, and as someone who has to come up with the $25 as well, give up a trip to the local Chinese take-out, make your own coffee for a week, take a sack lunch for a couple of days, stay home with your family instead of going to a movie, and get that computer into your student's hands.

[Saint_]

just_nobody wrote:

<quoted text>
My intention was not to remove them from poorer students, but to assess fines to fit the family, not a S.O.P. style of penalties.

Great idea! After all we have free lunch programs, why not help out poor families with laptop repair as well? Very constructive, I like that.

Thumbs up!

[just_nobody]

Saint_ wrote:

<quoted text>
Great idea! After all we have free lunch programs, why not help out poor families with laptop repair as well? Very constructive, I like that.
Thumbs up!

Thank you for understanding.

[just_nobody]

Dan2 wrote:

I understand the frustration of those families who are poorer and can identify. I have 3 boys of my own. However, I see "poor" families complaining about their finances often. Usually those doing the complaining drive a better vehicle than I do, eat out constantly, and HAVE to have THE current "in-thing".
A $25 usage fee for access to a world of information is NOTHING when put into the hands of a child who is taught how to harness that power. As a parent, and as someone who has to come up with the $25 as well, give up a trip to the local Chinese take-out, make your own coffee for a week, take a sack lunch for a couple of days, stay home with your family instead of going to a movie, and get that computer into your student's hands.

I do understand poor driving Escalades. I'm talking about the real ones who don't drive new cars and see movies. Heck the only reason I have internet is
1. I'm homebound, disabled
2. My kids graduated, and now work. so they are not on my income of 8000 per year, so I do understand.
It is never going to be my opinion to remove the computers from anyone unless they are plain destructive on purpose.Rich or poor, or even homeless, as we were at one time, I got 2 boys. Just this is a program, everyone is getting as "new",, so lessons must be learned by the student, and the school policies, in tandom. So the rules are fair to all who benifit from this. Plain and simple.

[Just a little thought]

Saint_ wrote:

<quoted text>
Great idea! After all we have free lunch programs, why not help out poor families with laptop repair as well? Very constructive, I like that.
Thumbs up!

There really is no way to keep the abuse down from any system like this. My daughter is on reduced lunches (all income is honestly claimed). I send money for her breakfast and lunch. When she had a large balance in her lunch account I asked her why she had not been eating breakfast and lunch. She told me a boy (who was trying to impress her) was buying her food and snacks, "he has lots of money he gets free lunches". HMMM. Every time sliding scale is instated it is abused. I say pay the $25 and impress upon your children the responsibility they are being given, and the value of the consequences. No allowance, if they receive one(my kids don't) and the fact that there are neighbors who will pay for some help. Granted the neighbors may only pay $5 for a 2 1/2 hour job but it will teach respect and responsibility.

[just_nobody]

Just a little thought wrote:

<quoted text>
There really is no way to keep the abuse down from any system like this. My daughter is on reduced lunches (all income is honestly claimed). I send money for her breakfast and lunch. When she had a large balance in her lunch account I asked her why she had not been eating breakfast and lunch. She told me a boy (who was trying to impress her) was buying her food and snacks, "he has lots of money he gets free lunches". HMMM. Every time sliding scale is instated it is abused. I say pay the $25 and impress upon your children the responsibility they are being given, and the value of the consequences. No allowance, if they receive one(my kids don't) and the fact that there are neighbors who will pay for some help. Granted the neighbors may only pay $5 for a 2 1/2 hour job but it will teach respect and responsibility.

I agree abuse is a huge factor here, and not all who need, get, and those who don't need, do get. I applaud your direction of teaching responsability, it is a needed lesson, every child needs to learn. So all I really want to say is, for once, if they use income, they do not get guidlines from PMS.