And for only $10 Billion….
When I was running for Congress, I wanted to supply every student K-12 with a laptop. Besides saving tons of money on obsolete dead tree based textbooks, dead tree testing and dead tree term papers- we would also be raising a generation of technologically prepared workers.
But, I was worried about the price tag: about $10 billion- or 2/5 of what the Big 3 automakers will be asking for later today as a “bridge loan.” (Maybe it should be a bridge to nowhere loan?).
From the Dayton Business Journal- the new estimates of all that cash to bail out the fallout from an unregulated financial system is now coming in at a mere $8.5 TRILLION.
Federal bailouts, equity buys into banks and investment houses, liquidity infusions by the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, loan guarantees and economic stimulus checks now total $8.5 trillion, according to various estimates.
That equates to about 60 percent of U.S. gross domestic product, which will come in around $14 trillion, according to economists.
The $8.5 trillion total in bailouts is nearly twice the size of annual GDP in Japan and accounts for more than the annual GDP of every national economy except the U.S., European Union and China, according to federal data.
The $8.5 trillion includes the $700 billion bank and Wall Street bailout; federal takeovers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; individualized bailouts for Citigroup and American International Group; and various cash infusions into financial and lending markets by the Fed. The $700 billion includes federal equity buys into Bank of America Corp., JP Morgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and other financial institutions.
Recovery efforts in U.S. economy total $8.5 trillion – Dayton Business Journal:.
Just remember, this was the country that couldn’t afford national health care either.
At some point, someone needs to reel in the out-of-control disaster control spending and look at what real long term investing strategy should be.
Laptops for students should be at the top of the list.
What makes you think that everyone should be in front of an energy consuming computer? We are all born with talents that should be utilized to the best of our abilities, but a computer for every k-12 is ludicrous. We throw perfectly good computers away everyday in America. We need regionally based economies that provide a wide variety of jobs and demand a wide variety of skills. I would not be opposed to funding David’s Websitetology course for all students as an introduction course, but the base level of course work for K-12 should be fairly well understood at this point. We just need to have expectations of our teachers, students and parents that churns out the best and the brightest at whatever field best suites them. It would be great to have the best craftsmen, farmers and computer scientists in the world all in Dayton Ohio working collectively for the greater good. The typical response to my Utopian view is socialism and I say BS. It is sheer stupidity to let the short sighted goals of the market dictate how men should interact with men or how man should interact with the environment.
Economist should be placed in the same category as philosophers, instead we give the stupid SOBs their own channels on cable (CNBC, Bloomberg and Fauxbusiness). We are reaping the seeds we have sown as humans think we have separated ourselves from nature through technology. Keep Digging, Keep Digging.
@Greg-
When you consider the costs of a paper based education system-
laptops start becoming very cost effective.
Computers can be powered with hand crank generators if need be- that’s what we ship to third world countries.
The XO laptop for all k-5 students and a Linux based full size unit for 6-12 would be a much better investment than bailing out GM.
COSTS!!!!!!!
What about people who have kids who can’t afford them. This costs society plenty of cash plus all the GD headaches that come along with people who really don’t want to be parents. I don’t like the COST argument, bc it is a never ending bitch and if applied should be applied to the above. Why bother giving kids computers if our society would just stop having kids ( or at least the kids that are not wanted) The kind of cash we would have if we were just responsible would be able to bail of the auto industry, but more importantly keep YOUR cash in YOUR pocket.
Simple solutions are best – hold parents accountable. No need for everything else when you apply a little social pressure to our slackers in society. Give it a generation or two and soon enough we will only breed when we can financially and emotionally support a child. Until then, stop shaggin’.
Gene, I’m not really sure what you’re getting at, but regarding costs… the whole point of discussing costs is to weigh the financial costs against the social benefits. Money makes things happen – there’s no getting around discussing finances.
Hold parents accountable how, exactly? Get people to stop shagging how, exactly? Easier said than done. Ensuring that our kids will be prepared for a highly competitive, global, technology-driven world? That we can do.
Schools hold students accountable – Set Standards and ignore the parents. With current teachers union this seems easy.
The world human population is currently in overshoot (see Caton) for the current resource consumption, so there has to be a reduction in human population, or demand destruction (no growth). The answer is easy – Sterilize women after one live birth. Just think how valuable that meal tick would be and how valuable life would be. We would have to design on economy on quality, not on growth.
The ludicrous belief that “technology” will save us from resource constraints is hubris as man attempts to become god. Man cannot live within his means and it will destroy us. We are no better or smarter than yeast, at least that is the data that is presenting itself and no Excel program, database or technology is required to confirm this belief as humans should hold these “truths to be self evident”
With the current begging by the Govenators to continue BAU (Business as Usual) by building roads that no cars will drive on and investing in Medicare to give 70 year old fat women new knees, we are continuing on the path of yeast. Rely on no governments, make plans with like minded individuals and hope for a sensible discussion instead of hand crank computers that will have no access to the internet, because no one can pay the energy bills to keep the server farms going. BUY BOOKS!
I’m all for population control and suggest we also sterilize men after they’ve created their first baby mama. And as long as fat old men don’t get new knees, I can live without getting them myself.
Greg,
I wish I could find a link to the video, but the transcript will have to do here.
Dan Aykroyd: Tonight on “Point/Counterpoint”, Jane and I will argue Federal Aid for Abortions. Jane will take the Point for Federal Aid, and I will take the Counterpoint against. Jane?
Jane Curtin: Safe abortions have always been available to the rich, Dan. You simply want to deny them to the poor, and if you succeed, poor woman will be forced to get them anyway. They’ll be forced into the alleys with hangers, plungers and vacuum cleaners, risking death or mutilation. But you’d like that, wouldn’t you, Dan, you sadistic, elitist, sexist, racist, anti-humanist pig!
Dan Aykroyd: Jane, you ignorant, misguided slut! Once again, you missed the point entirely. [ enraged ] Why should I pay hard-earned dollars so welfare tarts can have sex anytime they want, without regards to consequences? Haven’t these bimbos heard of abstinence? I, myself, haven’t had sex for two years – and I’m rich! Why should I foot the bill for killing unborn infants, anyway? I’ll pay for something practical like sterilization – but abortions? Never! With one exception – if I had been around when your mother was having you, not only would I have paid for the abortion, but I would have performed it myself!
Jane Curtin: Thank you, Dan.
@ Greg & Allison; What happens if the first born dies later in pre-adult life after mandated “birth control”?
It used to be an embarrassment when woman would have children out of wed lock. But in certain communities it is not only accepted it is expected. I am tired of paying a bunch of social losers to f**k non-stop until the reproduce by 9 or 10.
Frankly, I say we lock up all the slut, or ship them to Australia. I really don’t care, bc they don’t care enough about themselves. These people bring little ones into this world, and these people are unprepared to be parents. They starve and physically and emotionally abuse these kids and somehow I am the bad guy for suggesting we do something about it. Well, I say fix ’em. Is that enough of a solution to you Raj, or do you want to continue to see unwanted and abused kids in the United States. It must be fun for you to watch.
Or take said computer money and buy gun and shoot ’em – again, I don’t care if they disappear (this is why we needed Rudy as Pres, he makes the unwanted disappear!)
Schools hold students accountable – Set Standards and ignore the parents. – Hold parents accountable by holding students accountable and ignoring the parents… wait a minute… how does that hold parents accountable, again? – Setting standards doesn’t equate to meeting standards. It’s neither an answer nor a solution, because the problem to be solved is how to attain results. See “No Child Left Behind” for a case in point. – We can’t even hold one arrogant old man accountable for his actions, and you think we can just do it with every teenager in the country? Easier said than done. Sterilize women after one live birth. – Uh huh. What would you say to the family that just lost their one and only child? “Tough luck, better luck next life!” I suppose? – You can forget it. No warm-blooded human being would even consider this notion except in the face of dire, immediate crisis. And, no, we’re not there yet. The ludicrous belief that “technology” will save us from resource constraints is hubris as man attempts to become god. – The objective is to save our economy from being buried by global competition, not to address resource constraints… though the ludicrous belief that a shift in consumption of resources from one type to another is inherently negative is also hubris. Grumpy old man attempting to be an even grumpier old man, usually. Rely on no governments… – And who will sterilize all of those millions of women for you? Who will set & pitifully attempt to enforce those educational standards you speak of (that essential already exist)? …make plans with like minded individuals… – Not always a good thing. I’d much rather Al-Qaeda members sit around and puff on hookahs than make plans with like minded individuals. …hope for a sensible discussion… – Don’t hold your breath. In the face of money and status, sensibility doesn’t stand a chance. because no one can pay the energy bills to keep the server farms going. – Being able to pay the energy bills is dependent on two things: The cost of energy… Read more »
Gene, assuming you’re not joking, it doesn’t sound like you’re mature enough to raise children either. Not by my standards. But the lesson we (and by “we” I mean “you”) have to learn is that it takes all kinds. Diversity is nature’s best survival weapon, and even though we’re all taught & encouraged to think inclusively and apply that mindset to our systems of authority, it is still unwise to do so. One never knows what the future might hold and who might be best prepared to succeed in it.
My comment was just a counterpoint, I noticed Greg used females in his examples and I was just providing al alernate view ;) After all, you need more than an egg and a uterus to create a baby.
I do believe it’s true that many times those who can least afford to have children seem to have the most. I would gladly fund birth control of any type, over providing public financial assistance for 18 years.
Allison, I agree, good counterpoint. And yes, Welcome to the computer age, get with it or get left behind.
I think you are right on the money with this idea, D. One does have to consider that kids are kids…and they are prone to breaking things, but then again, in an age of $500.00 Wii packages, perhaps kids are taking better care of their electronics.
Any way you slice it, it’s forward thinking and it’s a good idea. Costly, yes…but so are all things that promote radical change. I can say that my kids are brighter, more critical thinkers because of the Internet (and knowledge their mama shares with them from the Internet.)
First, you’d have to battle online porn from seeping into their In boxes, and I’m not sure that is possible on the whole???
Sorry life is not fair and not all those slated to go the distance actually make it.
A true statement, but a poor excuse.
Hold parents accountable by holding students accountable and ignoring the parents… wait a minute… how does that hold parents accountable, again? Worst thing to ever happen in schools was lowering standards on discipline first (corporal punishment) from whiny (Phil Gramm) mothers (I know my mom was one of the whiners) and then lower standards on physical fitness and then finally grades as johnny cannot take disappointment. I had hard core teachers that had expectations greater than my parents, so yes ignore the parents. The objective is to save our economy from being buried by global competition, not to address resource constraints. My objective is to provide respectful employment for all citizens, so they and their off spring, may have opportunity. The policies emanating from Corporate controlled DC/NYC have contributed in destroying the American middle class so the elites may benefit and now that this is complete, the financial “geniuses” that brought us this mess are going down. If US would have pushed NAFTA to add labor and environmental standards, we would be in better shape than today and so would the Chinese. We shall see how the Chinese deal with the shattered dreams of all those transplanted peasants. It would be in America’s interest to get the Chinese to attack India at the same time the Indians are dealing with the Pakistanis, then explode a mid air nuclear weapon over the amassed combatants. If that event occurs, then we do not have to sterilize our women. I’d much rather Al-Qaeda members sit around and puff on hookahs than make plans with like minded individuals. The Foundation spent US supplied money very effectively, while the FAA was sitting around planning on where to dine in DC. The inadequacy of our leadership has been evident to me ever since I did my first deal in DC. Disgusting way to run a country and it goes back to the School issues. I have much higher expectations, than most banal Americans. For instance, most people in this town love Tony Hall, but his in correct focus on feeding the world cost Dayton and Montgomery… Read more »
Yes…. that’s exactly what I’m saying. Read & digest:
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/ate/story?id=53095
http://www.wanttoknow.info/050818solarenergynanotechnology
http://deltafarmpress.com/news/070117-renewable-energy/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_Colombia
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/prelim_trends/rea_prereport.html
The real obstacle is summarized in this abstract:
http://www.allacademic.com//meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/0/7/2/5/7/pages72573/p72573-1.php
A. I am not a parent
B. I do not want to be a parent
But, if you think like Raj, in the great sea of worthless humanity a guy or girl is going to invent the better door knob or cure the common cold is reason to allow millions and millions and millions of kids to suffer bc they have parents who should not be parents. Heck, one of them may cure cancer.
To allow millions of kids to be abused or starve in order to “cross our fingers” one of them will cure the world is total BS. Don’t have the kids in the first place and……..
-Education would be better
-People’s health would be better
-People would have more money bc we would not have to pay for losers
-Crime would be reduced
-Businesses would thrive without all the BS headaches that come along with unwanted kids
-Disease would decrease
-Productivity would be up
-and a whole lot more!
but Laptops will save the day!
Don’t get me wrong, we need to be forward thinking. But if we could control just this one problem, that being People who have kids who can not afford them, will not take care of them, do not want them, are not emotionally ready to take care of them, etc… then we would not need such elaborate ideas to solve our problems. 85% of the USA problems deal directly with unwanted kids. They cost everyone too much time and money. Our standards are low.
Put people in jail – bc they sure aren’t taking care of their kids.
Continue to hand hold and band-aid every problem. Continue to ignore the real problems.
It really is this simple folks.
BTW – why do the DPS need new buildings? Oakwood has three buildings and have kept those three up over the years – all are 70+ years old, if not older.
This is bc Oakwood has a community of parents that lead and teach, helping ensure that their kids a properly educated and well mannered. They don’t have laptops, they have dedicated parents. This makes a big big difference.
Notice I did not mention money.
Gene, What do you base this startling statistic on?
” They don’t have laptops “
What stats? They are not required to have laptops, and the students that have them do not get them from the school rather their parents, in most cases.
Oakwood students have been doing well for years, well before laptops. My point is in regards to the proper parenting that happens in Oakwood compared to Dayton parents. They are not perfect by any means but STATISTCALLY they care more. How do I know? Go to a parent/teacher conference at all three Oakwood schools then attend a few in Dayton. Those, my friend, our my stats.
People in Dayton can hardly keep up with yard work, what makes you think they parent well? BTW I live in East Dayton, not Oakwood.
Go see for yourself. People in Dayton just need to stop reproducing.
“This is bc Oakwood has a community of parents that lead and teach, helping ensure that their kids a properly educated and well mannered.”
Oh, you mean like the Oakwood kid and his buddies who got in trouble last year for raping a twelve year old?
Yeah, those Oakwood kids sure are well-mannered…and none of them ever have sex.
Right.
Face it, Gene: people are the same everywhere. There are bad apples in Oakwood, too. The only difference is, if you’re from Oakwood, Mommy and Daddy can afford to hire you a better lawyer.
RAJ You do not need a computer, you need to “critically” read the links you send. I will digest the rest later, but ethanol from crops or corn are not viable, but you have faith
http://deltafarmpress.com/news/070117-renewable-energy/
Raj – Popular Mechanics said that a flying car would =(hubris) be economical by now.
Raj – I will not waste my time with your links as here is the second pipe dream; however, at least the study (opinion) acknowledges that we would have to cut American electric consumption by 50%, which is a tectonic shift in America’s “non negotiable way of life”. So we are going to cut electric consumption, increase population and build electric cars. RIIIIGHT Raj – Get the Hookah. Read the oil drum (www.theoildrum.com), which provides supreme data analysis.
When and Some are pipe dream words Raj, just like my flying car.
Greg,
Some dreams happen and some don’t. We’re not flying around in cars (please stop harping on about that… the fact that you believed Popular Mechanic way back when says a lot), but we did go to the moon and explore the solar system. Micro-technology has made leaps and bounds in the past half century. The history of technology would indicate that drastic advances are possible in short amounts of time — especially when there is economic & social motivation — but only when the math works.
Sure there are bad apples, I never said otherwise. And what does money have to do with academic success? You face it, statistically Oakwood kids are better students bc their parents care more and they expect a lot more from their kids. That is my point, and my only point. So if we could figuare out how to make the loser parents in Dayton care enough then our educational system, among many many many other aspects of our daily loves, would improve. Laptops are fine, but better parenting would go a whole lot further in making our kids smarter and better people. Stay in the ‘burg, bc you are probably holding out your hand like most everyone else. I have to pay for it all.
By 2012, every Cleveland Heights-University Heights student in grades six through 12 will get a loaner laptop computer during the school year. Teachers will have their own laptops to use yearlong.
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/10/pencils_pens_and_laptops_local.html
Gene,
You said “Oakwood students have been doing well for years, well before laptops. My point is in regards to the proper parenting that happens in Oakwood compared to Dayton parents”
So in your world you would leave behind the students that don’t have better educated higher income parents. That would leave today’s kids to grow up being in the same boat when they become parents. How do you break that vicious circle?
You do not leave anyone behind – we, as a society, need to make it a priority that all people, kids included, know that it is not acceptable to have a child until you are financially and emotionally ready. The reason we don’t do this is bc we think it will hurt people’s feelings. Ahhhhhhh. But the fact is we have kids who are unwanted and being abused and neglected, and somehow that is acceptable.
Make it a requirement to get a Parent License. Seriously. We make people get a driver license for some reason. You can buy a car without a license, you drive without one. But the key is if you get caught you have to pay a fine, and repeat offenders go to jail. Same deal with being a parent.
I am actually against that, but I think that is better than doing what we are doing now, which is nothing. Nothing. And time and time again kids are being neglected and abused, and that seems to sit well with people. Let me in a school and I will make it CRYSTAL CLEAR that having kids is not always the best decision, especially if you are poor and young and undereducated. But let us keep the hand holding up, lord knows we need these future prisoners.
And why is it always INCOME? My grand parents were poor but they knew right from wrong, they clean trash off their front lawn, they disciplined their kids, they did not do drugs, they did not allow their kids to do drugs, they volunteered, they read books, they made their kids read books, they participated in school activities, they made their kids do the same, they worked hard, they over came, they did not live like animals. Why is money a factor. It certainly helps, but DOING THE RIGHT THING AND MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS AND BEING A GOOD PARENT can improve one’s life. But that would require thought and hard work and effort, God forbid.
I’m glad you agree that we don’t leave anyone behind Gene. So until we can implement your Parent License plan lets get these kids some computers.
Computers are great……… but better parenting by better parents will make this a better place to live. Figure that out then you have done the world right.
Why do we ignore this problem?
I think Greg should move to India – then you can just burn the bitch when she doesn’t listen.
I can only imagine the societal implications of forcing the sterilization of women after one birth… but what other kind of thinking do you expect out of a country where the insurance will pay to keep your dick hard but not to keep my eyes from exploding when I’m around cats.
Go figure.
Not to mention – how do you go from students needing computers to women being sterilized??
so sick
The problem is that we needs kids to learn, or in this case do a better job of learning, and David thinks a band-aid of computers may help (it won’t) and my point is that the problem with all of this resides with the parents. Giving out computers is a good idea, a tool that is needed, but it will not solve any of the underlying problems of education. Kids have learned for generations without computers. Today’s kids are stupid. Not bc of a lack of computers but rather neglectful parents. Giving them a computer will not solve any problem with the exception of saving trees. If we want to correct the system, that is to get kids to actually learn, we need to attack the problem, and the problem is neglectful parents. Solve that and you solve 85% of society’s ills. Again, computers are great, I am using one right…………NOW! Kids need good parents, everything else shall fall into place.
Liberals love band-aids. I say don’t fall down to begin with and you will have no need for said band-aid.
It really gets old, all this hand holding and hand outs. It really does. Everyone wants to change society but no one thinks of changing themselves. Look in the mirror – do a better job each day, and teach the same. Other wise you get what you pay for, and laptops hit over the heads of kids will be one of many negative results. Peace.
When did educating our children become a handout?
I don’t think anyone is arguing the point that there are bad parents out there – but you have to remember that there are a lot of good ones too. Running an education system based on the fact that some parents suck isn’t a viable option – in my opinion anyhow.
When are we going to quit punishing children for being born to poor, uneducated, uncaring parents?
When will we decide that enough is enough and all children (despite their ridiculously inept parents) are created equal and deserve the same opportunities of learning?
Gene-
I guess we should stop handing out textbooks too- ’cause those are a handout.
The point of the XO laptop is that it replaces deadwood publishing with an easily up-datable platform that is interactive.
When a laptop costs $200 in quantity- and a full set of dead-tree books costs thousands of dollars for 12 years of school- I don’t see it as a handout but as cost saving.
do you understand?
Computers are a hand out. KIDS HAVE LEARNED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS WITHOUT EXPENSIVE COMPUTERS. COMPUTERS WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF TROUBLED/MISGUIDED/MISBEHAVED/STUPID/CRIMINAL/NOT CLEAN/FAT/POOR/ BAD HEALTH KIDS. Those things are REAL problems, and should be solved, or attempted to be solved, before throwing millions and millions of dollars into computers that will end up broken of the streets. It is about what is important, and you think computers are more important than the real problems kids face. Again, computers will help kids but money could be better spent to make sure they are properly feed and have tutoring before computers. And if you think they are educating them then you have not seen test scores or meet with any kids lately.
When you build a house you start with the foundation. You guys want to spend money on the appliances before the walls and roof are up. Order of Operation. What is REALLY important? Computers or Tutors. YOU DECIDE. you can’t have, as most of these stupid kids would say, “BOFF.”
Why not give everyone a free computer?
Computers still cost a hell of a lot more than books – you know it and I know it. Find replacement costs to all laptops flushed down the toilet and broken over Johnny’s head, etc.
We have plenty of books. Solve the BIG problems first, OR DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND DAVID? HUH? ARE YOU TOO STUPID TO UNDERSTAND IMPORTANT PROBLEMS? Get with the program.
Show me REAL numbers, a cost/benefit analysis then compare that with the cost/benefit analyses of healthy kids, tutored kids, etc.
Gene must be too busy making sure there are no kids on his lawn messing with his mulch and such.
What an incredibly short-sided and angry view of the world you have Gene.
Might I ask if you are a first born? If not, there might be some merit to your argument.
Why keep throwing money at problems when they are not the real problems? Just to spend money?
I am one of many, falling in the middle. My experience tells me that buying stuff for kids does not make them smarter or healthier or more disciplined. Computers have thier place, and I have stated that I think computers are a good thing for kids – but buying computers will not solve REAL problems. And so when we continue to see dumb, unhealthy and misbehaved kids who have computers what will we have done? What will we have solved? Some may be better off, but more kids would be better off if they had tutors and proper nutrition. That is where our focus should be. Why is that hard to understand?
Kids have always been welcome to play in my yard. I think physical activity is better than sitting in front of the computer, which I am doing now, and I shall now go to the gym and get a work out in bc I am guilty of being a computer-potato if you will.
Kids will learn best with a better system, which may include computers. But first thing first, that is what I am saying, I would hope we all could agree that we have bigger fish to fry. Computers someday, but for now discipline, health, actual learning and retaining information is more important. Try that for a generation and maybe would could turn the corner. Such is life.
Like one of my sisters told me the other day…
” I SAVED $75 on the two pair of shoes I bought for $120.”
RIGHT!!!!!! SAVED!!!!!!! She has plenty of shoes, and she SPENT $120, she did not SAVE a dime.
It is a COST. And we should be spending money on REAL problems.
Do you just not pay attention to the parts of other people’s arguments that don’t agree or help you make your point? You know, the part where the writer said computers can SAVE MONEY because they are renewable resources as opposed to textbooks?
Try reading the counterpoints, it might broaden your view of the world.
Current monies should be spent on major problems, not luxuries. We could all SAVE MONEY by purchasing hybrids, but that is not practical either. Amy, grow up. My view of the world has been enhanced with travel and education, maybe we should SPEND MONEY for you to get a life or a clue, your choice.
It is still spending money either way, money that could be used in better ways.
Again, you refuse to look at the concept that laptops are a money saver. In all those world travels, perhaps reading comprehension was not made a priority?
We’re already spending money on text books which are outdated as soon as they are printed. A renewable resource like a laptop, which could be easily updated to meet changing needs is not so easily obsolete.
Gene, with all due respect, you sound bitter and angry and that’s sad for you. Why isn’t the use of hybrids a valid solution. People like you continually condemn that which you either don’t understand or don’t agree with. Yet, no solutions come from the same mouths. I’ll get a clue, as soon as you get an open mind, agreed?
Gene it’s 2008 not 1988. Computers are not a luxury.
I own a hybrid, thanks. It will never happen anytime soon, so who really cares? And most importantly, it is a good idea, but show me the cost analysis on this – you can not just say $200 and that is it. In business a person is required to show actual NUMBERS, which, in my business opinion, the numbers are far greater than any $200 number thrown around. Prove me wrong. Get the costs of the computers, plus software, add-ons, printers, paper, electricity use, future software, replacement costs for damages or being obsolete, continuous purchases with new students, recycling costs, etc. and then compare these cost with our current annual funds for text books. Do the work, do the math. You really only have to do this with one school district, and you will find that computers are more expensive year in and year out for any school system. Current text books plus new text books (they replace them/buy “new” at a certain rate, not all at once) is a cheaper option. Also, most school have computer classes and people have computers at home. I am not sure our kids our dropping the ball in knowing how to use computers. Heck, that is what they are good at! So it is not like we are computer-less. Also, Amy in Ohio, many subjects, like math, science, and English, etc really never become all that obsolete. Different ways to teach and different theories emerge, subject like History change, but not so much with most core subjects (most need a REFRESHING, but the material is still and always will be valid.) Again, it is YOUR proof bc it is YOUR idea. If the number REALLY work, great, you win. But they won’t favor you. BTW, computers are hazardous to the environment, at least you can replant trees. Land fills of old computers pollute water, mostly in foreign countries. This kills people, believe it or not. Also, this could be a LARGER cost to the poor people in having to replace damaged computers – text books are replaced by those who damage/lose them. Another… Read more »
I am with Gene on the text books and the parenting part, but I believe that poor students should have the same opportunities as Oakwood students. Oakwood was “set up” to exclude the poor, and benefit the connected. Grade inflated whiners that grow up to care of their own like Paulsen, Bush and Bernanke. Oakwood and DPS are 2 sides of the same coin. (posted from a deer blind in brownwood, tx)
Poor people do go to Oakwood – and Oakwood kids are not required nor given laptops.
The VAST majority of Oakwood student are not connected. You really do not know that much about Oakwood if that is what you think. And half of Oakwood voted for Obama.
Oakwood parents care more. Get your losers DPS parents to care more and maybe you will see a turn around.
Next.
Gene, get real.
What is your definition of poor? I’m sure you’re familiar with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and something tells me that Oakwood kids have their primitive needs met.
How do you know that Oakwood parents care more, clearly they can afford more compared to DPS parents, including a PC. There are many “poor” parents out there working 2 and 3 jobs each because they CARE about their kids. You are familiar with the working poor arn’t you?
Who cares about students being connected, what’s important is having access to resources.