Laptops for Kids Urged

An interesting article found on TMCnet about giving seventh grade students laptops.

Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn wants to put a laptop computer in the hands of every 7th grader in the state’s public schools and on Tuesday urged the Illinois state legislature to help him do so.

To pay for the plan, he proposed tapping a portion of the state sales tax, now 6.25 percent. Of that amount, the state rebates 1.75 percent to retailers–Quinn’s plan would divert a portion of that rebate to pay for the new computers.

First off, let me say that I think laptops could be a great learning tool for students, moving the text books into a digital form, allowing for interactivity, as well as being a great way for students to learn typing, and take documentation, but I think that until notebooks are given freely by companies, or become super cheap then they should stay in the hands of those that can afford them.

I also think that if used incorrectly, laptops could become a tool for distraction, as even if they are locked down with security, children will find a way to put other materials on the machine which are not going to be used for learning.

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