Don't rely on the State and be a parent and do for your own children.
You ever think by taking other peoples money for these programs your stopping another person from sending their kids to College because they have to pay for Socialism?
Quote:
Originally Posted by OC4Theo
Here is a State that understands what is important. In most states, especially in California, they spend the school money for the Prisons Industrial Complex. Shame on you Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Nazi!
Way to go, State of Maine! You have shown that children is the future.
Oh thanks I really want to buy people in Maine laptops with my tax Stimulus money when I live in Vermont.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kdupuis77
While I missed out on the first roll out of laptops to middle school students (I was already in high school), my little sister was a part of the pilot program in Maine. She was assigned a new iBook to use during 7th and 8th grade in middle school and allowed to bring it home every night. And after that two year period, the school department extended an option to purchase the laptops for only $50! Needless to say, virtually all of these kids went that route and had their own machine to use throughout high school. All of the school's classrooms were outfitted with projectors that teachers could connect their PowerBooks to for their lessons. However, the laptops also had special software installed which allowed teachers to "hand out" digital files and weblinks, restrict web-browsing/instant messaging, and allow students to collaborate on projects through their laptops. My step-brother is just entering middle school this fall and will receive a white MacBook on his first day. As reported in the local newspaper, each MacBook/AppleCare/Software/IT package costs the state of Maine about $785 per student - Quite the discount really!
Fall 2009 Maine MacBook Specs: 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR3, 120GB HDD, SuperDrive. (End of lease student purchase option will be $85 in Spring 2011)
*There is, however, one MAJOR drawback with this program. The state subsidizes the cost of each MacBook student bundle and makes them available to each regional school department for $200 each for use in high schools. The Middle School program is completely funded by the state and is mandatory. The new high school program is optional at this time. About 60% of Maine's high schools will be taking part this fall.
Everything started with a state tax surplus and is being continued with grants and federal stimulus money. This is an excellent program that helps to get new technologies in the hands of our youth and prepare them for today's digital world.
What about when they try to boot off USB,CD ETC ETC.
I seen all the tricks of the trades and visit other schools and none of this stuff is set up right.
Are you stopping them from throwing another HD in it when the get home? NO.
I go thru this stuff on a daily basis.
And when a parent comes into school to complain you will loose that fight!
Have you ever tried to get a parent to pay for a stolen laptop? Do you have to buy Lowjack at addition cost?
No schools in my area run OSX servers.
Well obviously they aren't managed correctly then....
And maybe its time to get a Mac server.
There are ways to get people to pay. Don't give students their report cards (they shouldn't be able to graduate/advance to the next grade without receiving them). Every parent/student should have signed a agreement so they know they're rights and most importantly, their responsibilities. It should have been outlined that broken screens, stolen laptops, etc are their responsibility and NOT covered under warranty no matter how it happened. This stuff needs to be brought to everyone's attention with a signed agreement BEFORE they're deployed.
Also, parents should be made to pay a deposit, only returnable at the end of the year when the correct laptop is returned in the same condition it was lent out with.
Oh thanks I really want to buy people in Maine laptops with my tax Stimulus money when I live in Vermont.
Anyway the money in that state is spent for education you'll never see the benefits so what's the difference? If it makes you feel better...our district was pondering the idea of purchasing 2 additional laptop carts of MacBooks for use in classrooms with their stimulus money.
No doubt Apple Corporate is happy at the chance to sell laptops in such quantities.
But somewhere inside Apple, a secret engineering team is shaking their heads at the stupidity of buying such generic laptops for such a specialized purpose.
They know that in a few years, the tablet device sitting on their desk will change education forever...
As always, this is a good idea in theory but often has some major issues in practice. Some schools in my district used to do a similar program, but it was quickly canceled after it got out of hand.
Properly managed, it could work, but more often than not, systems like this lack proper management.
I think this is a terrible use of tax dollars. I personally never learned anything on a computer in school that I couldn't have learned from a book. This is needlessly wasteful. Computers are not educational, they dumb you down like TV.
I assume you didn't have internet back then. The computer information age started in the beginning of the 90ies when the internet took off.
I always get the feeling that technology is randomly thrown at a problem by politicians to give the apperance that they're 'up with the play' when in reality they're so far behind the eighth ball it isn't even funny. Personally I think getting the fundamentals nailed down is the key before one starts giving kids laptops that'll be little more than gaming platforms.
I’m from Maine and I have mixed feelings about the laptop program. I guess I’m ok with it if it is done right. I have a friend who just retired from teaching and from what he has told me, some teachers use it to it’s fullest capabilities while others not so much. I won’t go into my friends use but lets just say he did some really innovative projects on the iBooks. I don’t have any use for computers in the schools just for the sake of the technology. I think if Apple can come out with a MacTablet device with a lease program for textbooks on the tablet, it could be interesting. There would still be some problems to work out but definitely something to think about. The key for Apple is to make these affordable. Get the kids on them in school and you could have adults buying Apple products in the future.
As far as whining teachers go, what is the difference between them and other workers in this country? Some are hard workers and willing to give more than the minimum while others are lazy. So we get rid of the average teachers and who are we going to replace them with? When pointed out to the complainers if the job is so great than put in the time and money and get a teaching degree. To this point non have taken up my suggestion. I was trained to be a teacher but choose not to teach because of the BS I would have to put up with from SOME of the students, teachers, parents, administration and the school board. I guess all the time off wasn’t worth it.
The knee jerk statement, just have the parents buy their own kids a computer is just that, a knee jerk statement. Maine is a very poor state. Like many states we have a significant percent who work at low paying/menial jobs. Even if these parents can find a beater computer they can’t afford broadband. Heck some have trouble feeding the family. At least while at school their children have access to a computer on a daily basis. I see these poor kids lined up in the public library to use the computers and I’m not interested in arguing about what they are using them. The point is they don’t have one at home.
Unfortunately this story has turned political and so be it. As stated above, I don’t have a problem with money spent on the laptop program as long as the teachers are trained to use them in innovative ways but if they are there just to make the school look good than the program should be stopped. For me, the jury is still out.
ipod-touch is the correct term i am sorry i will go fix my post
Quote:
Originally Posted by macintoshtoffy
I assume that is a jab at the portmanteau created where iPod and Touch are combined because it is a common term used to refer to iPod Touches as.
??dude I have no idea what you meanT. zippo .
I mis-spoke and that is all, sorry .
Maine will be flooded with ipod-touchs which is an odd BUT BEAUTIFUL mental picture to have that one state will be overloaded with ipod touch compared to the rest of the world .
That is if they even get them as part of the deal. I hope they do .
ipod-touch is the correct term i am sorry i will go fix my post
??dude I have no idea what you meanT. zippo .
I mis-spoke and that is all, sorry .
Maine will be flooded with ipod-touchs which is an odd BUT BEAUTIFUL mental picture to have that one state will be overloaded with ipod touch compared to the rest of the world .
That is if they even get them as part of the deal. I hope they do .
Who said I attacked or insulted you? a portmanteau is a combining of two words - the use of iTouch is just as legitimate as the iPod Touch, so I don't understand why you think I am attacking you. I use iTouch all the time because I find iPod Touch more verbose than what is required.
I'll be a senior at Yarmouth High School (in Maine) next year and have had an iBook issued to me every year since seventh grade. I can tell you that despite any issues you may see, the program works fantastically and has really revolutionized learning around here. The state program in middle school was so successful, actually, that my town even used it's own resources to give high school students laptops and extend the program to twelveth grade.
The teachers are very well versed in the technology- we use laptops in every class from math to history, english, health, art, music, science, etc. It's streamlined the research and writing process, as you can imagine, though we still do write by hand and research in the library often. To everybody concerned about misuse, the camera on MacBooks is disabled for students and the schools firewall blocks most inappropriate sites.
It might just be that my school system is one of the best in country, at least in Maine, but so far giving the student laptops has been a runaway success.
Who said I attacked or insulted you? a portmanteau is a combining of two words - the use of iTouch is just as legitimate as the iPod Touch, so I don't understand why you think I am attacking you. I use iTouch all the time because I find iPod Touch more verbose than what is required.
I Think we crossed our signels and are saying the same thing to each other.
I'll be a senior at Yarmouth High School (in Maine) next year and have had an iBook issued to me every year since seventh grade. I can tell you that despite any issues you may see, the program works fantastically and has really revolutionized learning around here. The state program in middle school was so successful, actually, that my town even used it's own resources to give high school students laptops and extend the program to twelveth grade.
The teachers are very well versed in the technology- we use laptops in every class from math to history, english, health, art, music, science, etc. It's streamlined the research and writing process, as you can imagine, though we still do write by hand and research in the library often. To everybody concerned about misuse, the camera on MacBooks is disabled for students and the schools firewall blocks most inappropriate sites.
It might just be that my school system is one of the best in country, at least in Maine, but so far giving the student laptops has been a runaway success.
I assume the kids don't get to 'keep' the laptops but instead are the property of the school?
I'll be a senior at Yarmouth High School (in Maine) next year and have had an iBook issued to me every year since seventh grade. I can tell you that despite any issues you may see, the program works fantastically and has really revolutionized learning around here. The state program in middle school was so successful, actually, that my town even used it's own resources to give high school students laptops and extend the program to twelveth grade.
The teachers are very well versed in the technology- we use laptops in every class from math to history, english, health, art, music, science, etc. It's streamlined the research and writing process, as you can imagine, though we still do write by hand and research in the library often. To everybody concerned about misuse, the camera on MacBooks is disabled for students and the schools firewall blocks most inappropriate sites.
It might just be that my school system is one of the best in country, at least in Maine, but so far giving the student laptops has been a runaway success.
And yes, Yarmouth is one of the finer schools in the state, and yes, many other schools are seeing amazing results with the program. Now if they could come up with a program, that keeps all (some even) of these smart young adults in the state after they graduate from School / college?
It's a wonderful, quiet, peaceful & beautiful state to live in, but being WAY up here, has it's drawbacks.
The taxes are WAY to high, the cost of doing business is WAY to high and the price we pay for living here is WAY to high.
Yes I know how to drive, and can leave the state anytime I or anyone else in the state chooses to, but should we have too?
Comments
You ever think by taking other peoples money for these programs your stopping another person from sending their kids to College because they have to pay for Socialism?
Here is a State that understands what is important. In most states, especially in California, they spend the school money for the Prisons Industrial Complex. Shame on you Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Nazi!
Way to go, State of Maine! You have shown that children is the future.
While I missed out on the first roll out of laptops to middle school students (I was already in high school), my little sister was a part of the pilot program in Maine. She was assigned a new iBook to use during 7th and 8th grade in middle school and allowed to bring it home every night. And after that two year period, the school department extended an option to purchase the laptops for only $50! Needless to say, virtually all of these kids went that route and had their own machine to use throughout high school. All of the school's classrooms were outfitted with projectors that teachers could connect their PowerBooks to for their lessons. However, the laptops also had special software installed which allowed teachers to "hand out" digital files and weblinks, restrict web-browsing/instant messaging, and allow students to collaborate on projects through their laptops. My step-brother is just entering middle school this fall and will receive a white MacBook on his first day. As reported in the local newspaper, each MacBook/AppleCare/Software/IT package costs the state of Maine about $785 per student - Quite the discount really!
Fall 2009 Maine MacBook Specs: 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR3, 120GB HDD, SuperDrive. (End of lease student purchase option will be $85 in Spring 2011)
*There is, however, one MAJOR drawback with this program. The state subsidizes the cost of each MacBook student bundle and makes them available to each regional school department for $200 each for use in high schools. The Middle School program is completely funded by the state and is mandatory. The new high school program is optional at this time. About 60% of Maine's high schools will be taking part this fall.
Everything started with a state tax surplus and is being continued with grants and federal stimulus money. This is an excellent program that helps to get new technologies in the hands of our youth and prepare them for today's digital world.
And what about when they go home with them?
What about when they try to boot off USB,CD ETC ETC.
I seen all the tricks of the trades and visit other schools and none of this stuff is set up right.
Are you stopping them from throwing another HD in it when the get home? NO.
I go thru this stuff on a daily basis.
And when a parent comes into school to complain you will loose that fight!
Have you ever tried to get a parent to pay for a stolen laptop? Do you have to buy Lowjack at addition cost?
No schools in my area run OSX servers.
Well obviously they aren't managed correctly then....
And maybe its time to get a Mac server.
There are ways to get people to pay. Don't give students their report cards (they shouldn't be able to graduate/advance to the next grade without receiving them). Every parent/student should have signed a agreement so they know they're rights and most importantly, their responsibilities. It should have been outlined that broken screens, stolen laptops, etc are their responsibility and NOT covered under warranty no matter how it happened. This stuff needs to be brought to everyone's attention with a signed agreement BEFORE they're deployed.
Also, parents should be made to pay a deposit, only returnable at the end of the year when the correct laptop is returned in the same condition it was lent out with.
Giving students teaches them responsibility.....
Oh thanks I really want to buy people in Maine laptops with my tax Stimulus money when I live in Vermont.
Anyway the money in that state is spent for education you'll never see the benefits so what's the difference? If it makes you feel better...our district was pondering the idea of purchasing 2 additional laptop carts of MacBooks for use in classrooms with their stimulus money.
But somewhere inside Apple, a secret engineering team is shaking their heads at the stupidity of buying such generic laptops for such a specialized purpose.
They know that in a few years, the tablet device sitting on their desk will change education forever...
Properly managed, it could work, but more often than not, systems like this lack proper management.
I think this is a terrible use of tax dollars. I personally never learned anything on a computer in school that I couldn't have learned from a book. This is needlessly wasteful. Computers are not educational, they dumb you down like TV.
I assume you didn't have internet back then. The computer information age started in the beginning of the 90ies when the internet took off.
Before that, I can see your point.
15% OFF
And 65,700 free itouch's !!
Maine will be swimming with itouches soon .
What is an "itouch"?
What is an "itouch"?
I assume that is a jab at the portmanteau created where iPod and Touch are combined because it is a common term used to refer to iPod Touches as.
As far as whining teachers go, what is the difference between them and other workers in this country? Some are hard workers and willing to give more than the minimum while others are lazy. So we get rid of the average teachers and who are we going to replace them with? When pointed out to the complainers if the job is so great than put in the time and money and get a teaching degree. To this point non have taken up my suggestion. I was trained to be a teacher but choose not to teach because of the BS I would have to put up with from SOME of the students, teachers, parents, administration and the school board. I guess all the time off wasn’t worth it.
The knee jerk statement, just have the parents buy their own kids a computer is just that, a knee jerk statement. Maine is a very poor state. Like many states we have a significant percent who work at low paying/menial jobs. Even if these parents can find a beater computer they can’t afford broadband. Heck some have trouble feeding the family. At least while at school their children have access to a computer on a daily basis. I see these poor kids lined up in the public library to use the computers and I’m not interested in arguing about what they are using them. The point is they don’t have one at home.
Unfortunately this story has turned political and so be it. As stated above, I don’t have a problem with money spent on the laptop program as long as the teachers are trained to use them in innovative ways but if they are there just to make the school look good than the program should be stopped. For me, the jury is still out.
What is an "itouch"?
ipod-touch is the correct term i am sorry i will go fix my post
I assume that is a jab at the portmanteau created where iPod and Touch are combined because it is a common term used to refer to iPod Touches as.
??dude I have no idea what you meanT. zippo .
I mis-spoke and that is all, sorry .
Maine will be flooded with ipod-touchs which is an odd BUT BEAUTIFUL mental picture to have that one state will be overloaded with ipod touch compared to the rest of the world .
That is if they even get them as part of the deal. I hope they do .
ipod-touch is the correct term i am sorry i will go fix my post
??dude I have no idea what you meanT. zippo .
I mis-spoke and that is all, sorry .
Maine will be flooded with ipod-touchs which is an odd BUT BEAUTIFUL mental picture to have that one state will be overloaded with ipod touch compared to the rest of the world .
That is if they even get them as part of the deal. I hope they do .
Who said I attacked or insulted you? a portmanteau is a combining of two words - the use of iTouch is just as legitimate as the iPod Touch, so I don't understand why you think I am attacking you. I use iTouch all the time because I find iPod Touch more verbose than what is required.
The teachers are very well versed in the technology- we use laptops in every class from math to history, english, health, art, music, science, etc. It's streamlined the research and writing process, as you can imagine, though we still do write by hand and research in the library often. To everybody concerned about misuse, the camera on MacBooks is disabled for students and the schools firewall blocks most inappropriate sites.
It might just be that my school system is one of the best in country, at least in Maine, but so far giving the student laptops has been a runaway success.
Who said I attacked or insulted you? a portmanteau is a combining of two words - the use of iTouch is just as legitimate as the iPod Touch, so I don't understand why you think I am attacking you. I use iTouch all the time because I find iPod Touch more verbose than what is required.
I Think we crossed our signels and are saying the same thing to each other.
I do not feel that you attacked me .
we are cool
peace
I'll be a senior at Yarmouth High School (in Maine) next year and have had an iBook issued to me every year since seventh grade. I can tell you that despite any issues you may see, the program works fantastically and has really revolutionized learning around here. The state program in middle school was so successful, actually, that my town even used it's own resources to give high school students laptops and extend the program to twelveth grade.
The teachers are very well versed in the technology- we use laptops in every class from math to history, english, health, art, music, science, etc. It's streamlined the research and writing process, as you can imagine, though we still do write by hand and research in the library often. To everybody concerned about misuse, the camera on MacBooks is disabled for students and the schools firewall blocks most inappropriate sites.
It might just be that my school system is one of the best in country, at least in Maine, but so far giving the student laptops has been a runaway success.
I assume the kids don't get to 'keep' the laptops but instead are the property of the school?
Oh thanks I really want to buy people in Maine laptops with my tax Stimulus money when I live in Vermont.
This program has been going on LONG before YOUR (?) stimulus money was around.
Skip
I'll be a senior at Yarmouth High School (in Maine) next year and have had an iBook issued to me every year since seventh grade. I can tell you that despite any issues you may see, the program works fantastically and has really revolutionized learning around here. The state program in middle school was so successful, actually, that my town even used it's own resources to give high school students laptops and extend the program to twelveth grade.
The teachers are very well versed in the technology- we use laptops in every class from math to history, english, health, art, music, science, etc. It's streamlined the research and writing process, as you can imagine, though we still do write by hand and research in the library often. To everybody concerned about misuse, the camera on MacBooks is disabled for students and the schools firewall blocks most inappropriate sites.
It might just be that my school system is one of the best in country, at least in Maine, but so far giving the student laptops has been a runaway success.
And yes, Yarmouth is one of the finer schools in the state, and yes, many other schools are seeing amazing results with the program. Now if they could come up with a program, that keeps all (some even) of these smart young adults in the state after they graduate from School / college?
It's a wonderful, quiet, peaceful & beautiful state to live in, but being WAY up here, has it's drawbacks.
The taxes are WAY to high, the cost of doing business is WAY to high and the price we pay for living here is WAY to high.
Yes I know how to drive, and can leave the state anytime I or anyone else in the state chooses to, but should we have too?
Skip