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

[Adam Davin]

Hi All,

On Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:35:14 +0800
Gavin Chester <gavin.chester at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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)?

The one reason that would stand out to me for asking for monetary
contributions towards hardware is to try to make sure that it is looked
after, ie if students / parents are just given a laptop, it can be
taken for granted as opposed to someone who has just had to pay say
$400 for the same thing. 

I know my son was meant to be given a brand new mac last year (Year
8) but they ended up having them taken away because older years took
offence to the younger ones being introduced to the laptops first and
so they were given to the older year instead. 

He has since received one this year and the laptop has not been taken
care of, there is muck and grot all over it. 

Just my 2c, 

Regards, 

Adam.