Steve Mensing, Editor
♦ Listen up I’m a 1000% behind any school initiative that would put a major dent in illiteracy and would turn youngsters into interested readers and increase their reading, writing, and math skills as well as stretch their horizons. Putting computers and tablets in the hands of children, who truly need them, may be good idea. Like kids on school lunch programs who don’t have computers in their homes or for that matter few if any books on their shelves. A digital connection can open up a cornucopia of stimulating and worthwhile reading. Interesting reading is one of the sparks getting kids turned onto books and reading materials. A child who can read and is turned on by books has a good start in life and is better able to make the most of their learning opportunities.
This latest school board initiative dives into the deep end of the taxpayer’s money pool–like 100 fathoms down where the green stuff slithers around in the murky darkness. $12 million dollars of taxpayer money, that the Board of Education desires to transform into Mac Book Air Laptops to send home with every teacher on June 13th, is a huge figure. Later next fall and winter Mac Book Airs and iPads for kids. I’m a little curious though. With that kind of money you could build a Central Office that would be the envy of all Central Offices or do something actually useful to advance education.
I don’t see any need for teachers to receive Mac Book Air laptops when everyone in that profession owns their own computers. Millions of dollars toward leasing is quite a bit of taxpayer money to supply teachers with high-end laptops for something they don’t require. Sure a few teachers might enjoy such a perk. Who wouldn’t want 3 years of a leased Mac Book Air for free? Many teachers might prefer better state pay in lieu of a high-end laptop especially more veteran teachers left out of pay raises.
Is there a downside for sending high-end laptops and iPads home with youngsters? Likely. Children sometimes lose and mishandle computers and in some instances kids from tough situations may have individuals dwelling in their home who might make an expensive computer disappear. Also kids in this digital age might be more prone to text and game than to pursue reading so built in controls would be required.
Some school board observers believe this $12 million dollar lease plan for Mac Air Laptops is another ruse to make the county commissioners look bad. After all this idea is being floated as a potential answer for literacy and “for the kids”. And as a cure for overweight taxpayer wallets.
I doubt the county commissioners would allow the school board to raid their funds for the extravagance of providing Mac Book Airs for teachers when teachers already have their own computers. The Board of Education might be able send lower-end, but sturdy laptops and tablets, home with children in need.
As a side note when this issue was discussed by the school board, school board members Susan Cox and Josh Wagner raised questions about it and voted against it.
Rowan-Salisbury Schools to Lease Apple Laptops and iPads for Teachers and Students to Take Home:
