“After his school district announced its new laptop computer initiative, Tupelo Superintendent Randy Shaver is asking businesses to help provide Internet access to students,” Chris Kieffer reports for The NEMS Daily Journal.
“The district made a splash Tuesday by saying it would provide Apple MacBook computers to all teachers, administrators and students in sixth- to 12th-grade. The district will buy more than 5,000 computers, including computer carts for all nine of its kindergarten to fifth-grade schools,” Kieffer reports. “The students’ computers will replace their textbooks.”
Kieffer reports, “The students will have Internet access at school and will be able to do most of their work on the computer itself while not necessarily logged onto the Internet, Shaver said. But Shaver, whose previous school district in Whiteville, N.C., also had a one-to-one computer program with Apple, said he is encouraging businesses to install wireless Internet hubs.”
“Shaver said that 85 percent of the district’s students already have Internet access at home,” Kieffer reports. “‘For that other 15 percent, we are asking the community to step up and help,’ Shaver said.”
Kieffer reports, “The first phase of the computer distribution will occur soon, with seniors, teachers and administrators receiving their laptops before the end of this semester.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Chris T.” for the heads up.]
@ John
It’s good to hear from you!
People get set in their ways, and sometimes they really hate to take the time and effort to learn something new. Even if they knowledge will save them hours of frustration and headache.
Never fear, once the machines roll out, I don’t think it will take long for folks to realize what they’ve been missing.
Yeah, I guess people will have to get used to it eventually. I don’t think they’ll turn back now after already investing so much into it. Hope it all ends well.