[plug] WA Govenment iPads for year 1 and 2 students

[Gavin Chester]

On 19/02/12 16:30, Alexander Hartner wrote:
> My kids public school has a special technology program which covers a
> lot of different aspects. The program does however require the purchase
> or lease of Apple hardware
>
> http://ashdalesc.wa.edu.au/teaching-and-learning/specialist-technology-science-program/enrolment-for-2013-year-8-intake/
> "*What commitment is needed from families for successful participation
> in the program?*
>
> Access to appropriate technology is vital. Ashdale Secondary College
> will provide access to specialist software, specially trained teachers
> and specialist industry personal. Parents will be required to provide
> students with access to Apple MacBooks, in a one to one program model.
> There are a number of purchasing and lease arrangements that have been
> made possible through our partnership with Apple and more information
> regarding this will be provided at parent evenings during Term 2."
>

Carrying on with this dated thread (which I started, so that's my 
excuse!) - it seems to me that your kid's school may be off track in 
more than one way. Forget the OS + hardware debate that has been the 
theme of this thread, _WHY_ are parents having to pay for the gear?

In the public school that I teach at (and I'm on the school tech 
committee, for all the good that does) we are getting federal funding to 
meet their goal of 1:1 computer supply in all public schools. So we're 
getting the fed. money and buying netbooks that we are gradually rolling 
out to _GIVE_ a netbook to every student - starting from the senior 
students first. I'd be asking some hard questions as to why you're 
expected to pay for them when the feds are giving the school the money 
to fund the whole exercise (or is it only that way for low SES schools 
like mine)?

Gavin.