[DM-MUG] Register's piece on laptops in DM Schools.... and others?

[dmmug@dmmug.org]

The Des Moines story about proposals to give a laptop to students at 
public and private schools is interesting.

As a Des Moines taxpayer involved in computer education for the 
government, working in South Carolina responsible for courses teacing 
Automated Litigation Support (computers in the courtroom) and 
Cybercrimes, including internet fraud, child exploitation, and various 
federal computer crimes, I found a web link to the story:

http://DesMoinesRegister.com/news/stories/c4780927/23005278.html

As a former elected school board member in one of the largest (by area) 
school districts in the state, I am interested in getting kids a great 
education.  We all have to care about our kids and their education.  
But I think anyone promoting universal use of computers should read the 
book' Silicone Snake Oil.

Though at first glance it sounds great, the well meaning proposal 
suffers on several counts:  Students need real basics like literacy and 
math skills first, and promotion of expensive items like these can take 
money away from more vital education needs -- like teachers and books.

The current proposal to give a computer to every kid will be no more 
meaningful than was the spending of thousands of dollars in a pilot 
project to give Palm Pilots to a lot of elementary kids a couple years 
ago.  They learned how to beam their spelling assignments to one 
another, but I question whether it was money well spent. If computers 
were free, I would say 'go for it'.  But they aren't.  Pencils and 
paper are much cheaper, and until a student has a stong mastery of the 
three "R's" other pursuits are quite simply a diversion.  Maybe, make 
the award of a computer a "promotion" incentive.  I still remember a 
few years ago it when it was brought home to me that some in our 
schools were not measuring up, when they sentenced a recent graduate to 
prison for a violent crime, and the presentence report reported that he 
had graduated three years before from East High School, but could not 
read or write.  Granted, thats an exceptional case, but there are too 
many kids who are not focusing on the basics.

Also it's a universal truth that anything free will be wasted.  When a 
person invests their own money or effort in acquiring something 
valuable they tend to prize it and it will be less subject to waste.  
An expensive laptop in the home of a computer illiterate child, will be 
of no more educational value than an unopened book, and will not 
displace the video game of the month that kids seem to find the time 
and money to buy.  If kids had to meet some goal or achievement level, 
and had to provide part of the costs, I would have less problem making 
each of you give part of your paycheck as a taxpayer to him to buy the 
computer.

If there were a way to provide opportunities for financially strapped 
children to work for a laptop, or to assist parents or children to buy 
them at low cost, then they would be much more valued and more likely 
to be used by the students.

But you still have to read to use a laptop, or to read a computer 
instruction manual....  Basic literacy will not be enhanced by giving 
away free computers at a cost of laying off teachers or cutting back on 
books.



Ed Kelly
edkelly14@mchsi.com
also usdoj@mac.com
and ekelly7@sc.rr.com
and edkelly@netins.net



-----Original Message-----
From: Victoria L. Herring <VLHerring@HerringLaw.com>
To: dmmug@dmmug.org
Sent: Sat, 13 Dec 2003 08:39:45 -0600
Subject: [DM-MUG] Register's piece on laptops in DM Schools.... and 
others?

I hope you all noticed it == I have sent off an email to whatever 
emails I could find at Apple.com, but thought if anyone here can get 
people at Apple thinking that it could and should partner with the Task 
Force to make this happen, that'd be great. 
  -- Victoria L. Herring, Des Moines, Iowa - Owner, 
http://www.JourneyZing.com - Your Source for Customized Trip & Travel 
Research and Attorney at Law, for civil rights, discrimination and 
employment law matters: http://www.herringlaw.com. Ph. 515/255-4475; 
iChat AV: victoriaherring@mac.com. 
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