“The state that was first to provide laptops to every seventh and eighth grader in its public schools is taking its campaign to the high schools, and Maine’s top education official vowed Thursday that every high school student will have a laptop computer within two years,” David Sharp reports for The Associated Press.
“The 67,000 computers currently being distributed at more than half of the high schools will give students the skills they’ll need to compete in the workplace, said Don Siviski, superintendent of Regional School Unit 2,” Sharp reports. “‘The competitive world that these students are going to be engaged in — it isn’t only the United States, the Northeast or Maine. Their competitors are going to be all over the world. They need to be savvy,’ he said. ‘Schools need to join the 21st century to prepare these kids for that world.'”
Sharp reports, “Under a four-year, $64 million lease, Apple Inc. will provide each student with an Apple MacBook with a 13-inch screen, 160-gigabyte hard drive, built-in camera and a full slate of software, as well as wireless routers, tech support and warranty repairs. The cost is $240 per year per computer.”
“Maine Education Commissioner Sue Gendron wanted to expand the program into all of the state’s 119 public high schools, but had to settle with participation from only 64 this fall. The narrow window for high schools to sign onto the program over the summer and the nation’s economic turmoil prevented full participation, she said,” Sharp reports. “Still, Gendron said, Maine’s program — the first statewide program to provide laptops to students — is also the nation’s largest. The students are allowed to take the computers home, but don’t own them. The laptops have to be returned to the school in the spring.”
Sharp reports, “The laptop program began under Gov. Angus King, who wanted to eliminate the so-called “digital divide” between wealthy and poor kids. Maine started the first-in-the-nation program by distributing more than 30,000 computers to every seventh- and eighth-grader in the state’s public schools in 2002 and 2003.”
Full article here.
Maybe they could try that at my school. I wouldn’t mind.
Glad to see that schools are using macs and not Winblows. The cost per year would be more like $800 per year for all the tech support thy would need…
I read that several high schools would be getting Dell Windoze laptops.. hope that’s not a trend.
Maine. Clearly the smartest state in the nation.
What about internet access for the “poor kids”?
The school I work for is headed in the opposite direction; shedding Macs for Dells. But then, the administration is so inept it’s not even funny.
The stories I could tell…
Sir Bates:
good question – cost of access is considered
http://maine.gov/mlti/parent/home-internet-access.shtml
@ Frzzrt,
Thanks. Looks like a nice program.
across a continent
chairs fly
furious monkey
So this means that in about 10 years, most adults in Maine, and therefore most households and people in general, will be using Macs. Because we all know that all these kids are going to want a Mac now when they get their own computers.
@ecrabb
Nice one! With some slight modifications, you could turn it into a haiku:
across a country
a chair’s life comes to an end
furious monkey
@ ecrabb and MrMcLargeHuge:
or…
meanwhile, in redmond
big ass table smashed by chair
furious monkey
Maybe run a test. Half the class with Dells and half the class with Macs. NO IT support, and see how it goes.
Thanks for the poetry guys. Good stuff.
I was a computer teacher in Maine for the first 4 years this started before I retired. Apple wires all schools for wireless access in all areas of each building and there is a system where kids can get free wireless access through a statewide system from home. Most keep their fast broadband but some have partaken of it. At least it’s an option. The program is very, very cool.
BTW.. the couple of schools who opted for something else will do the netbook thing. No contest I’m afraid. And without Apple’s generous supply of software and wiring of buildings and tech support.. etc..etc…Bad choice I’d think.