We recently returned from the hour-long training session that accompanied the long-anticipated release of the coveted laptop.
The MacBooks are being sent home this week with MIS students – grades 4 through 6. They will be handed out to Mooresville High School students next week during classes.
Citing the growing usage of iPods and cell phones, MIS Principal Julie Morrow told us tonight that the Mooresville Graded School District is preparing students for the 21st Century.
“We are living in a digital world,” she said.
But all I could hear was Madonna. My mind flashed back to being about 9 years old, donning purple fingerless gloves, non-matching outfits with two different color socks, and a sideways ponytail tied up with a neon-green lace ribbon … parading around my living room, jumping up on chairs, singing “Material Girl” at the top of my lungs. I thought I was cool; I had the album in 12-inch vinyl.
And tonight, 22 short years later, there I was … sitting beside my 10-year-old daughter whose posture and angst during the one-hour “parent training session” resembled that which she holds during family Christmas meals that precede the opening of gifts.
I used to love summer breaks from school – swimming pools, kickball in dirt fields with neighborhood friends, staying up late enough to throw chains at bats and catch lightning bugs. My daughter, on the other hand, spent the better part of this summer looking forward to this week – the week before school starts – because that’s when she would receive her coveted MacBook.
I wasn’t so excited.
Parents have pondered many questions about the laptops, such as: How will $50 of insurance cover all the laptops that might be scratched, dropped or otherwise broken over the course of a school year? Will the students receive “zeroes” or “incompletes” for homework assignments that can’t be turned in if the computers crash? Who’s responsible if a laptop is lost or stolen? And perhaps the most important, at least to me: How will students’ Internet usage be monitored?
Is this “introduction” to the digital world introducing an unwelcome can of worms?
Answers to frequently asked questions can be found here: www.mgsd.k12.nc.us/16231081512531693/site/default.asp
I walked away from tonight’s informational meeting feeling a little more comfortable about the idea that my daughter will possibly forevermore leave in her dust the good ol’ days of paper and pencils … venturing out, instead, into a digital world that is, well, far beyond my world of comprehension.
“Students are digital learners,” Morrow said tonight, explaining that instead of students having to “power down” to go to school (translation: to go from computers at home, to pencils and paper at school), the laptops will help them “power up.”
The laptops are wireless compatible and Blue Tooth capable (did I word that right?). Students’ MacBooks – unlike those provided to teachers – will not be able to play DVD movies, Morrow said … adding, however, that the students’ laptops do have the capability to make movies.
The laptops have about a 4.5-hour battery life – or more, depending upon how often the students keep them plugged into an electrical outlet.
Each student is also being provided a bookbag that offers a safe haven for the laptops, as long as the students:
- don’t leave them in extremely hot or bitterly cold cars
- don’t slam them down on the ground like my daughters tend to do once they return home after a long day at school
- don’t pile books or other heavy objects on top of them
- don’t mingle bottles of water or lunch with the laptops in the bookbag
- don’t allow pets or young children around the laptops (a challenge in and of itself for my daughter, who shares a house with two dogs and a two-year-old brother … along with an older sister who’s a little envious that middle-schoolers aren’t being sent home with laptops this year).
But at least the MacBooks feature titanium hinges, which we learned tonight are the strongest on the market. And that makes me feel happy and safe.
What truly did make me feel safe was seeing my daughter’s reaction to a brief, but very powerful, video that Morrow showed, demonstrating just how easily a faceless predator can convince a child to give up personal, identifying information over the computer. Morrow assured us, however, that students will not be able to access chat rooms or instant messaging on the MacBooks – and the only e-mail exchanges that the students can have are those between them and their teachers. At least for the time being, Morrow said, the MGSD isn’t allowing student-to-student e-mailing.
The MacBooks have pre-loaded software, including Pages (which is Word for those of us Windows users); Numbers (Excel); Keynote; iCal (a calendar); iTunes; iPhoto (which allows students to store and play around with photos) and iMovie (allowing students to make movies).
Morrow stressed to students and parents the Internet "code of conduct," insisting that Internet usage at school will be teacher-directed and used only for “educational research and activities.”
The school district strongly encourages parents to memorize their child’s usernames and passwords. Morrow also asked us to keep the MacBooks in a “common room” in the house … to make sure we establish time limits for Internet use … and to regularly check our child’s history of visited web pages.
Though the FAQ page on the school district’s website states that students’ history of visited web pages is “undeletable,” Morrow told us tonight that if we notice our child has no history of visited websites, then that means that s/he has deleted the history … which likely means s/he has been visiting sites that s/he knows better than to visit.
… I guess that also means that the history of visited web pages isn’t so “undeletable,” after all.
Noting that the “most important filter is parental supervision,” Morrow assured us that the laptops have “server-based filtering software” that filters websites based on content/keywords and also blocks specific websites – including “social networking” sites like MySpace and Facebook.
However, the code of conduct instructs students not to try to bypass the filter, which – at least to me – means it can be done. And if we’re teaching our children to live in the digital world, I’d be willing to bet that many of them will learn to bypass the filter – if they don’t already know how – within their first week with the new MacBook.
But, heck, I’m living in the material world, not the digital one, so what do I know?
I wanna know your thoughts on the MacBooks – are they a good idea or not? Why?
Posts
67 comments:
Thanks for sharing your viewpoint on this issue. As a teacher who had to strugge to include any sort of technology in the classroom, I, for one, am thrilled that students, and through them - Parent, will be able to move forward into the world of technology.
A good friend of mine, Frank, will take the opposing viewpoint, but I'll leave that for him to share if he wishes.
unfortunately, we live in a world in which laptops are like apendages to our bodies. By providing laptops to all students, the district creates an even playing field where all students truly have access to the same materials. This will enhance availability of books and other media sources since more and more libraries are purchasing internet based books and media.
We are truly in a different world than the one in which we went to school -- sat down -- shut up -- and didn't talk.
I,for one, am excited about the possibilities the macs offer to all of our church and, in turn, to our community.
I guess it's inevitable that students' curriculums are more geared towards utilizing technology. Personally, I would have been ecstatic if the high school had been air conditioned when I attended MHS. I wonder how different my life would be if we'd had the technology then and learned it in school. Most kids I know are light years ahead of me in that aspect.
I think kids today could benefit from some of the activites we enjoyed like Jaime described in the outdoors. Those things spark the imagination. Not much compares to the smell of a newly mown field of hay or the clean smell after a summer rain. The sights and sounds of nature and life, real life, not life in cyberworld don't seem to interest many young people.
There is nothing like the tactile experience of caressing a good book and curling up on the front porch swing to read. I wonder how many could actually do math without the use of a calculator, or do a term paper without a computer. We did it the old fashioned way with index cards for references and typed bibliographies. We actually had to rely on searching for answers instead of calling on a search engine to do it for us.
I hope todays generation won't lose the subtle nuances and wonderful gifts available just outside the door in the physical world.
The MGSD does it again!!! "Look at all the shiny things we give our students, LAPTOPS!!! We even give all our teachers laptops!!! We install expensive Smartboards in the classroom to replace the simple dry erase board. Wow, we are a great school district."
Now don't pay attention to our pathetic test scores that seem to drop every year. Don't pay attention to the gangs in our schools that we try to cover up. Please ignore the fact that we refuse to disipline unruly students who disrupt the classroom and prevent other students from learning. Don't ask us about our high turnover rate for teachers that are leaving in droves because they are fed up with the misplaced priorities of the administrators
All you need to know is we have a pretty new football field and laptops for all our students and staff. LOOK AT US :)
PS:
Please remember to vote YES for the school bonds again next time.
I have to agree with 6:25am. Our schools have many problems that needed to be faced before we handed them laptops. We do have gang issues, we have disapline issues where some administrators want to hug a child instead of correcting them, we are doing no favors when we ignore these acts. How many laptops will be sold, traded, etc? I am disapointed that the children are not embracing the simple things in life like reading and playing, not sitting in front of a computer. I think sadly that our values have been distorted.
I don't know where this came from "I,for one, am excited about the possibilities the macs offer to all of our church and, in turn, to our community."
I meant to say ... to all of our children and, in turn, to our community.
6:25 is right on point. The Mooresville School system is all about the "fluff". They have a great marketing department that fools the people into thinking they are one of the best school systems in the state when in fact they are nowhere close. Please Dr. Edwards stay focused on what is important: PREPARING THE STUDENTS TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE REAL WORLD.
We have kids graduating from Mooresville Schools who cannont do long divison, or write a legible paragraph. Do you really think giving them laptops is going to improve that? Of course you don't. But you can call a press conference and announce all the new things the school system is buying. WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY!
Hey Larry, you mention that the laptops were funded "Primarily through grants." I'll let you in on a little secret. Grant money is not "free" money. It is still taxpayer money. Whether it comes from a Mooresville resident in his school tax or a Nebraska farmer through a federal grant, it is still money taken by the government from an individual and given to the MGSD to buy laptops for the kids.
True, but I don't think all the money came from federal grants. Some may have, but I don't know for sure. Regardless, I still think that this can be a good thing for our children and schools.
Quick Rader Forum Update. Mr. Rader did meet with town attorney, Mr. Gambil, yesterday. Mr. Gambill cannot divulge the contents of that discussion. Mr Rader's e-mail this morning says:
Hi, Larry
I'm planning on August 27 from 7pm until 9 pm, place to be determined tomorrow.
The working title is "ToM Exchange", but I think "ToM Discourse" is more apt, though rougher on the tounge. Discourse contains elements of reasoning and discussion of ideas where exchange is more give and take.
I will probably do it monthly.
Steve Gambill will be out of town on vacation.
As soon as I have a place, I will let you know.
I've again asked Mr. Rader if he ill answer the questions regarding his presentations to the officers of the MPD, but have not heard back from him.
Kudo's to the MGSD for providing a laptop to all students in the grades noted. As Mr. Greene stated, it provides an even field for all of the students to learn, not just those whose parents can afford to provide available technology. The MGSD providing laptops for students does not free parents from their responsibility to get children outside to play, encourage their children to read, color, and do all those things we did as kids (camping, scouting, etc). In our household, our children prefer, hands down, sitting with their parents and reading a book over any computer game or television show that is out there. I had the privilege of attending South School's first PTA meeting last week. The principal gave a very informative and enlightening presentation regarding the need for improved technology in the classroom. The most profound takeaway for me was that most of the jobs and careers our children will be performing as adults have not even been created yet. I applaud the MGSD for doing their best to keep up with the world. I cannot imagine any educator would think the laptops would replace the basics of learning to write, read, and perform basic mathematics.
Yes, I am the wife of an educator and football coach at Mooresville High School. Thank You, Lowe's Corp. et al. for our gorgeous football field that doesn't have to be mown every other day, seeded, fertilized, watered and painted. (Hope I didn't embarass you again, husband, dear!)
-Stephanie Jackson
Laptops are fine and good if the child's family or caregiver can afford one. A public school system only needs to concern itself with teaching children the basic fundamentals of education (reading, writing, math, history, science, etc.). Desktops in the classroom? OK. Requiring advances math students to purchase a $100 calculator? Fine I guess but still not an absolutely necessary thing when students are graduating without knowing how to convert simple fractions, decimals, calculating interest, or even how to make change in money transactions. However, using my tax monies to give every student a take home laptop? Outrageous and absurd. The funding that was used for those computers could have purchased higher quality text books and supplements, better scientific equipment and experiments for practical applications, etc.
I also applaud the MGSD for being ahead of the technology curve. I think it's great that we've leveled the economic playing field for students from all walks of life in our town.
I hope that the parents realize their role in this social experiment and check their child's computer...don't just assume "little Johnny" wouldn't dare go to a naughty place.
We'll know more in a year or so whether this was a great idea or not...in the mean time I'm just hoping the weight of my kid's backpack drops!
One minor disturbing thing...my wife was at the meeting and they were pushing MI-Connection as your option for internet service. Wonder if Windstream was invited to the party or was this just open to the Peoples Republic of Mooresville Cable System?
Hey Larry, Why not ask Frank to just call it Town Hall Meetings? then any commissioner who has time can come and speak with Frank. It could be open and informal.I'd just like the option to discuss things with them in a relaxed way, not at the podium of a scheduled meeting.
It seems Mr. Rader is calling all of the shots on this discourse/exchange. I think Mr. Green ought to advertise a meeting and invite any commissioners to attend. They won't answer any of your questions, because you the taxpayer, don't know what is best for Mooresville. I think it would be a great meeting if arrogance and entitlement were left at the door. Good Luck with that one! Fluff is a great discription for everything ToM/MGSD, or would empty suit be better?
For me the important thing is to see his repeated refusals to provide a "yes or no" answer to the question of whether or not he is willing to answer the questions about his presentation. To date, he has attempted to dodge the question, deflect it to Mr. Gambill, and attempted to totally ignore the questions.
I, for one, will not attend the propoganda session which Mr. Rader is attempting to set up. I agreed to meet with him in public if he committed to answering the questions which have now been posed a multitude of times.
I told him the 27th would work best for me, but that I wanted a firm commitment that he'd answer the questions.
There is a meeting tonight being hosted by Rep. McHenry. I am trying to arrange my schedule so that I can be there and ask our elected official for assistance in obtaining information related to the various investigations which have taken place, how to force the town to establish recall, and for his views on ethics in politics.
I will be more than happy to organize a town hall meeting and invite all of our elected officials, but I don't want to do all that work if noone is interested in doing it. If you're interested, shoot me an e-mail (admin@cfrgm) and let me know.
Back to the question of laptops. I understand your point about taxes being used, but I'd rather my taxes be used for something like this than on sustaining a golf course, paying for gym memberships, and paying for membership dues to various servce organizations. I guess I view it as what is the best use of those funds.
Will things flow perfectly with the program? No, but then again nothing ever flows perfectly. But our teachers are challenged to educate in ways which you and I probably did not have to deal with. I see this as an investment in the future and as another tool which the teachers can use to enhance the basics and to spark the interest of all children.
MGSD is offering some sort of program to focus on at-risk students and to counteract the disciplinary issues. I am not familiar with the first program, but the second program is positive behavioral support -- which is actually a great program if it's implemented well.
A couple of comments ago, I read one commenter's wish that "arrogance and entitlement were left at the door" when Frank Rader is involved. The truth of the matter is that there are two people holding a great deal of power in our town government who believe this town and everything in it somehow belongs to them, and they have specific reasons for believing so. Frank Rader believes it because he descends from the people who built and ran the textile mill in Mooresville. Erskine Smith believes it because supposedly he has descended from Franklin Moore, after whom the town is named. So, when you see these two men walk about as if they own this town, it is because they truly believe that they do. It does not matter to them that they had nothing to do with the accomplishments of their ancestors. All they see is their "inheritance". And who are we to question that "inheritance", and who are we to dare expect anything from them? Arrogance and entitlement were bred into these two men. Now, it is up to us to breed it out of them.
WOW....for the first time in my life I'm going to side with Rader.
Larry....I think you have to go and ASK him these questions in person. He's playing "Frank games" on you that are reminiscent of the old "It depends upon what your definition of what 'is' is" debate. Get him in person...with witnesses and make him decline to answer toy our face. He loves to play "word wrestle games"....and you can't win in email.
The little history on Rader & Erskine explains alot...Sorry folks, but its looking like until the problem children are dealt with all roads are gonna end with Rader & Erskine. Anybody know if it's true that even erskine's son has been on the town payroll working at golf course? can anybody say nepotism???? No wonder ya'll are having a heck of a time getting answers out there. It's supposed to be the gift that keeps on giving.
OK, I'm confused ... you side with Rader on what?
Perhaps "side with Rader" was a tad strong.....I just feel you don't get ANY answers if you walk away from a face to face conversation just because Rader is being Rader. He can't dodge every topic....but he is a slippery individual who will never put anything in writing that might come back and bite him in the keyster later.
Are we here to talk about the schools wasting money on laptops or is this a continuation of the Rev. Larry Green vs. Frank Rader fued.
Mr. Green, please get a life or start your own web site. It seems that of all the comments here on Jamie's blog, 1/3 of them are yours. Why don't you start www.thegreenreport.com where you can sit in front of your computer all day and blog your little heart out.
MGSD has opened the door for many of our kids. Their future depends on learning this technology. Many of you will be surprised at how these computers are going to make learning exciting for kids. Especially those kids that struggle and don't have parents who understand how to do many of the tasks students are required to do. I can't wait to see how our test scores improve!
4:06 is definitely a school employee. I share your optimism, but we must also be realist. I don't think children in the grades issued laptops are mature enough to take them home. I think they should use them at school, but laptops leaving school grounds creates a whole other set of possibilities for abuse and damage. But what do I know, I'm just an adult who doesn't live in a bubble with unlimited funds.
4:06 is definitely a school employee. I share your optimism, but we must also be realist. I don't think children in the grades issued laptops are mature enough to take them home. I think they should use them at school, but laptops leaving school grounds creates a whole other set of possibilities for abuse and damage. But what do I know, I'm just an adult who doesn't live in a bubble with unlimited funds.
I have kids in 1st, 9th, and 12th grades. They've been exposed to computers their entire lives.
My wife told me there were people in the room last night who may have never had a computer in their home before. I hope this program will help bring these students up to speed in an area they will definitely need in the future. Will there be problems and pitfalls...absolutely. I think this is a case where the potential good outweighs the risk.
Sigh ....
ToM Exchange Aug 27 7 -9 pm @ ToM Library, Burke Room.
Greetings, Larry
More, later.
Off to meeting.
1/3? And how long did it take you to sit in front of your computer to add up all those comments?
Sorry you don't care about Rader's abuse of power, but there are others who do so I share that information with in order to keep them up to date.
3:32 -- you're absolutely right. Thanks for the advice. I'll be at the meeting on 8/27 at the library. Hope you'll join us
once again, larry green manages to comandeer the discussion. by the way the post didn't have anything do to with the topic you'tr rattling on about but when has that mattered?
So, I'm related to the Mayhew who came here with millions in his pocket and bought up land (now known as mayhew Town, Brawley School Rd., Etc.)what does that make me? This was before the illustrious Mr. Moore was even born.
Frank Rader is a pompous jack***.
Period. He's going to think it's funny when a Federal investigation takes place in this town and he's smack in the middle of it and Danny's boy won't get you out of that one. He won't have the pull.
Erskine is just plain lazy and incapable of handling a town the size this one's grown to in the last 19 years. Yes, they feel entitled. Is Rader STILL using the MPD to excercise??? That needs to come to a grinding halt.
The last time I looked this was an incorporated town, not a village owned by some wealthy slave trader. You people need to wake up(commishes) and get over this crap of not communicating. And while I'm on that subject how in the H*ll did Steve Gambill not see some of these situations developing before they happened?In case you don't know ot boys, a request for the Freedom of Information Act regarding reports has been filed. I don't think the dim-witted know-it-alls can sweep that under the rug and play dodge ball with the truth. But I guess they think the words on those pages are "for data, not communication."
It's a shame that you can't read an article on here without reading the Crone, Rader, Green, CFK, City hall , or Smith propaganda. It is getting old trying to keep up with other important topics in the area, no matter what the topic is, it turns back to the other BS. I am glad when it is over, so we can move on and read articles (that have nothing to do with CFK)without hearing about everyone bitching about CFK stuff.
This is to the transparent "Establishment Supporter" who is trying to insinuate that this is all about a "Larry Green and Frank Rader" feud - think again.
Many of us find it absolutely vulgar how Frank Rader and several others behaved during the disgraced former police chief crisis. The actions and inactions of these individuals brought much shame to a town where we live and raise our families.
It is no laughing matter when government fails to the point where men, women and children walk the streets wearing "Anti Corruption" t-shirts and begging the FBI to come into their town to investigate the goings on there. There is no getting around that, there is no sugarcoating it, and now there is no sweeping it under the rug. It has gone too far for that this time.
Oh, look! A town groupie's back on the blog (9:15 pm). It just ain't the same without you people. We were wondering if cat got your tongue once Crone was finally given the boot (about five weeks too late). Hey, listen up. We ain't done and we ain't gone nowhere. Sit tight.
9:19
Exactly which post are you referring to?
Come on!!!!! I thought this blog was for MGSD laptops not As Mooresville Burns.
I personally love the idea of the laptops. After all, if it wasn't for technology in general, this corruption busting blog wouldn't even exist. Just think what one blog has been able to accomplish in this community that it would have taken years to accomplish. Hope the laptops create the next generation of activists who'll keep government officials honest!
Loved this article, Jaime, as much as all the others. Keep on keeping on girl!
Way to get us back on track of the laptop subject 10:23 & 10:49. Way to go MGSD!!!!
i started logging on to thegattonreport when chief crone began making headlines. as a mooresville native, i have often contemplated giving back to my community by volunteering for public service. i may have now reconsidered.
i am a third generation to live and work in mooresville. my kids were born and raised, attend school and play sports in mooresville. my family attends church in mooresville. my wife and i had grandparents who ran successful businesses in mooresville. my wife's maternal grandparents worked for burlington and lived on the mill hill for their entire lives. my father is a carreer marine. for the past fifteen years i have been employed with companies that network with area businesses and local chambers. i have been formerly and presently engaged in rotary and exchange clubs and served on various boards and committees that help improve the quality of life of our town.
please do not take these bullet points as bragging rights, but rather a declaration to committment for the well being of mooresville. although i respect all opinions, i challenge readers to review what you have done to strenthen mooresville and iredell county.
i am too close to chief crone to make a busines judgement. but it still saddens me when a man's entire life's work is derailed by one lapse of judgement -particuarly when it is not condusive(sp?) to his day to day duties. the chief was tried before any evidence was submited. i find it ironic that a pastor would lead that kind of movement.
and there will always be a good ol' boys club. isn't it obvious that that a new one is forming now? what we mustn't forget are the men and women who helped build the town, even though their views may now be outdated. i find respect for those who have paved the way lacking and
underapreciated.
i was once skeptical about the laptops. two of my three children will use them this year. but after attending the recent parent/student meeting, i was impressed with the organization and forward thinking demonstrated by local school officials. the meeting did not go over the scheduled one hour as planned. the topic of online predators was dealt with in a sharp and deliberate manner. and the distribution lines for computers and backpacks went smoothly.
so there is a month or two of inventory from my brain. thank you jaimie and contributors for making me ponder, waking me up to the issues in my own backyard, and helping me define my role in the neighborhood.
FYI - 4:06 is not a school employee. Just a parent who is excited to see a door open for an underprivledged child.
FYI 4:06 Be careful using the word "underprivledged children" in reference to anything "Mooresville," you might trigger an investigation.
I'm happy for you 6:06 AM for being part of the Old Guard and the Good Ole Boy Network of Mooresville. You can keep going to your meetings, hobnob with your friends, and be the Nice Guy. Some of us out here don't mind doing your dirty work so that you can keep sitting on your high horse judging us for demanding integrity and impeccable honesty in our government officials, police chiefs included.
chriso, John Crone had me put in a mental hospital for three days with no evidence. Why does anybody need any to do something to him? He is getting treated the way he treats people and that is fair. Now for the fun part.
For the laptop issue I am going to shoot it down like Japanese planes over the Marianas islands. I am trying my best to be civil because how anyone could think these things are good is beyond my comprehension unless, and this is where the school should have listened to me, they have never had to deal with it firsthand. I tried to tell the school not to do it but they wouldn't listen, most likely because they already hated me for making them obey the laws. Here is a numbered list of why this initiative will fall flat on it's ass.
(The following was written while suffering from nicotine withdrawal so expect a little bit of "bad" language)
1. This is the most pressing topic in my mind because I hated it on the desktop computers. The filters. Those things programmed by neo-Nazis to restrict freedom. They hinder education by letting kids learn about only the topics the school wants them to learn about. Of course brave Americans like me will find ways around them. We always have. There are hundreds of new sites that let us do it.
There were even two classes at NF Woods that were filter free. I loved those classes and so did all the other kids who where in there. Here is the way to bypass a fascist filter. You go home, get on your computer, and find a few proxy sites. Once you find a few you can test them and if you find one that works you share it with all the kids at school. Personally I went through hundreds of sites and found maybe 10 that worked. I would share one at a time so that way the school couldn't block all of them at once. Kids will always find a way to beat fascists. It's how they are. Give them laptops and the filters will be meaningless as they will be able to find the new proxies quicker.
Filters should only be used to stop sites with games and porn (because most of the flash games don't teach anything [real games teach things] and porn is only for guys who can't get the real thing), not information or humor. Sometimes in the middle of a day of misery you need a laugh and all the joke sites were blocked. The school should block what needs to be blocked and not everything they disagree with. If they want to do that then they should move to North Korea or China.
2. The fact that they're Macs. That right there by itself says this will fail. Macs are great for music, movies, and photos. For things like English class, science class, math class (I want the calculators disabled for this), computer class, the typing classes, and most of the other classes these things will be useless. On a windows computer you can do all the classes, even the art classes, I know because I was in graphic design and it ran on windows just fine. Macs run slower then windows computers because of inferior technology. The processors just can't compete with something in a real computer that runs on windows. Macs can't be upgraded. With a windows machine you can just change the parts every few years. With Macs every few years you need to buy a brand new machine in order to keep up.
3. Look at who owns both companies. Bill Gates, the autistic moron (bear in mind that I myself am autistic) who runs Microsoft. On the other hand you have Steve Jobs, a man who is well past his prime and firmly believes that someday his weak little computers will beat Microsoft. I hate both of these assholes with a passion. Bill gates for not convincing Sony to let him make Metal Gear Solid 4 for the Xbox 360 and Steve Jobs because I have yet to talk to a person who does like him. He tries to pass off his Macs as something good when I would rather catch the black plague.
4. They're letting kids in the 4th grade take them home. That is something so stupid it must be repeated for those of you stunned that such idiocy could come from an institution of learning. They are giving $1100 laptops to little kids. Are you ****ing kidding me?! I wouldn't trust a little kid with my $9 pocket watch let alone a laptop. I admit I would love to take a sledgehammer to the laptops but that would be considered humane compared to what little kids can do to them. It's a technology holocaust.
Then you still have to worry about the older kids because they'll have porn on them. The teacher will be walking down the isles, look at a kids computer, and see a donkey show. Now tell me how disturbing that is. They say that the laptops won't be able to play movies. And I say something made out of steel will never fly through the air. Of course some kid will figure it out. Anything the school installs can be uninstalled if the kid is smart enough. And once one kid figures it out he'll teach the rest of them.
5. Do they honestly believe that kids will use the laptops for learning and not Myspace? Are they that new to teaching? Sure kids will be more excited to go to school buts that's just so they can both be with their friends and online at the same time. I honestly have trouble understanding this. Has the entire school staff been replaced by people who have never seen kids before in their lives?
6. A possibility with windows based is a new school team. One that uses the laptops to play battlefield 1942. Playing team based video games is better then sports because it takes less room and will cost less. Kids can exercise in the classes that do it. A team based game teaches team work better then any sport can.
Here's an example from my life. I was playing the game Gears of War on Xbox live. It was 2 on 2 king of the hill. Me and my teammate figured out a strategy that worked better then just rushing in and sitting there. We'd both rush in together to take the "hill" then my teammate would stay there while I went and found a suitable sniping location. When an enemy would come by I would try to blow his head off. If I missed (%15 chance) then at least it would make him panic because now he had an enemy behind him and one in front of him. His accuracy would decrease and sometimes he'd hesitate giving my teammate the chance to cut him in half with his chainsaw. We won because of that strategy.
That is teamwork better then any sport can deliver. It teaches intelligent decision making, reflexes, and teamwork. Battlefield 1942 (rated T. If you don't know what that means then research it) is a WWII based game that allows for big teams of up to 32 players per team. It allows for strategic thinking on a bigger scale, historical accuracy, sharp reflexes, and a large amount of fun.
Unfortunately the school is going for Macs so this great idea won't be able to happen. If you think video games cause violence you're wrong, they decrease it.
7. The school made teachers get rid of their desktop computers. Why? I have no clue. They instead gave them laptops which they didn't need and a good number didn't want.
I graduated on June 7th, 2008. I am glad I only had to put up with these overpriced doorstops for one semester. Somebody needs to teach the school district what kids are like because they obviously don't know.
As I was reading the nostalgic musings of August 21, 2008 6:06 AM (a/k/a Chriso) I was reminded of the words of Hilary Hinton Ziglar (a/k/a Zig Ziglar) who once wrote "Little men with little minds and little imaginations go through life in little ruts, smugly resisting all changes which would jar their little world.”
here is another zig ziglar quote:
"knowledge breeds confidence; confidence breeds enthusiasm; and enthusiasm is an important key to being and doing more with your life.
buy the positive approach to life and i will SEE YOU AT THE TOP!"
why is nearly everyone on this blog so unhappy? keep the faith, man!
p.s. i can see why you were put in a mental hospital. what a long and boring post.
A few men in a small town, with few limitations and greedy hearts, go through life making big bucks off the backs of the poor saps living in that little town; smugly resisting all changes which would jar their greedy little town/world. Honesty leads to integrity which builds character to resist the abuse of the innocent by the few. Information is Knowledge; Knowledge is Power; These are a few reasons I love my dog; it is not corrupted by materialism and power. Maybe we need to elect a few "dogs" to the commission, then we would all be happy on this blog. PS We can put a bow tie on one if you like.
3:56, I am assuming you are the same gentleman who wrote earlier and told us that you "challenge readers to review what you have done to strenthen mooresville and iredell county." You also asked "why is nearly everyone on this blog so unhappy?" In addition, you suggested that "enthusiasm is an important key to being and doing more with your life."
Thank you for your challenge, question, and suggestion. I am but one humble yet avid reader of Ms. Gatton's blog, so I can only speak for myself, but please allow me.
As for your challenge, due to my exercising my right to remain anonymous, you will never know just how much I (and others on this blog) have done to strengthen this community in ways that will remain unknowable to you.
As for your question about "unhappiness", I can tell you that one can be a happy person and at the same time be intolerant of corruption and injustice. Ms. Gatton said it best in one of her reports when she said that we can choose to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."
Finally, your suggestion about "enthusiasm". I would say that without a doubt there are some very "enthusiastic" readers and participants in The Gatton Report. However, they choose to utilize their "enthusiasm" in a different manner than yourself. They are "enthusiastically" exposing misconduct and misdeeds by the people who wield tremendous power in their community.
And I, for one, remain very "happy" and "enthusiastically" grateful for that.
i am too close to chief crone to make a busines judgement. but it still saddens me when a man's entire life's work is derailed by one lapse of judgement -particuarly when it is not condusive(sp?) to his day to day duties. the chief was tried before any evidence was submited. i find it ironic that a pastor would lead that kind of movement.
I can't speak for others, but there is certainly more than one lapse involved here: overall management issues, abuse of power, violation of personnel policies, and a lack of equity in the application of those policies.
Just for information, there were four pastors involved in the protest and still active in this issue.
My goal is not to humiliate or to "destroy" anyone. My goal is for truth and justice to prevail. My faith is not placed in the systems of government, for those are easily manipulated by selfish motives.
The real question that should be looked at is what is more important.
A laptop for every child or a real classroom environment for every child.
Sitting in a trailer classroom with a take-home laptop sounds appealing BUT I think I would much rather prefer sitting in a real classroom that is equipped with laptops.
Seems there could be better ways to have spent this money.
I would like to say that's my 2 cents, but i have a feeling it was more than 2 cents of my taxes.
I was in my daughter's first grade trailer today. Quite frankly, the physical room didn't look a whole lot different than her kindergarten room in the old part of the school...except for the Smart Board.
My daughter's teacher used the Smart Board/laptop to help the kids tell her how they will be going home. She showed me how they will use the Smart Board for different activities. (Anyone notice how well Mooresville scored in the John Locke Foundation study on "Parent Friendly Schools?... a "C+" compared to the "D+" for Charlotte)
I'm sorry....if I see something wasteful, deceitful, or unethical...I'll write my opinion in the appropriate thread. This thread is about laptops in the school. Agreeing with the computers in the schools does not make you a "townie". We'll know soon enough if this was a good idea.
Jaime...perhaps you need to designate threads as "Crone-Free".
chriso, are you a friend of John Crone or part of his family? Those are the only people I know that have some kind of grudge against me. I merely layed out things from a point of view that knows what it's like to have laptops in school. What you need to understand is what mental hospitals are for. They are for people who are a danger to themselves or others. I do not meet those requirements as they learned.
P.S. Don't say things about people you don't know.
Yeah for you Jim :) August 21 8:58pm.
This particular blog did say something about Laptops didn't it. I don't recall anything about "townies" being in the headlines. I think Larry and Frank need to go find somewhere else to insult each other. Laptops open a whole new world for the next generation. Without the knowledge where will WE( their parents) be ?
Jim, I would love to have a discussion with you on the methodology used by JLF to arrive at those grades. I think part of their methodology is flawed.
I'd rather compare apples to apples and stick to schools within our size demographic and use that as a way of comparing how well we're doing.
I'm with you on the laptop issue though. I think this has the potential to open avenues in ways which may have never been opened before. I am leary of limiting success to an increase in scores, because I think a lot of that will depend upon how well the teachers integrate the computers into the overall teaching and learning plan.
Neither Frank or I insulted each other. Frank shared his thoughts, I shared my thoughts. We disagreed. And we agreed to disagree. Isn't that how discussions are supposed to go?
Frank what did you do for Crone to get you thrown into a mental ward?
Larry....I don't know enough about the John Locke Foundation's methodology but I agree it is a little unfair to compare MGSD to CMS....but we did finish ahead of kannapolis and Rowan-Salisbury.
I love the open discussion that this blog has created....I'd just like to see people stay on the topic of the blog entry.
This link will take you to a study of the possible impact of technology on student achievement. It's a LONG read, but has some good data which I know the MGSD considered in their decision making process
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te800.htm#issue
I am sure we can all agree, the laptops are a "wait and see" endeavor. I would like to know if we have heard anything regarding the investigations in ToM., or are the powers uptown stalling till the New Town Manager is seated.(FYI they are probably stalling so they can move Mr. Smith to Assist. Town Manager where the umbrella of "personnel" can protect him from having to answer for his inaction in the recent "questionable activities.") I would like to hear from someone who knows, thanks.
Ms. Setzer says that the forensic investigation is progressing, but could not give a timeframe as to when it might be completed.
I believe the inventory of the evidence room has been completed, but they are not releasing that infromation as they consider it to be a personnel matter.
Frank are you still here? I would like to hear your story about the allegations Crone made against you.
Surprise, surprise. They don't wanna release the evidence room inventory to the public. May be time for a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit folks. And then we can look into who is protecting who and why while we're at it.
I don't think Frank wants to talk about his issue with Mr. Crone. I guess Crone had a good reason to request a mental evaluation. I would like to hear your side. Larry do you have any info. on this one?
Frank's story was covered in-depth in the Statesville Record and Landmark. But to answer your question, yes I do have lots to say on this subject but don't feel it's an appropriate discussion for a blog, and it's certainly not my place to put it all out there. I will say that I have personally read through all available documents from the school and from the police department and saw nothing which rose to the standards of the law.
Thanks Larry. Could you give me a headline to search or approx. date. I would like to read this for myself.
I'm a bit confused, so thank you for bearing with me. Are you two talking about Frank Rader, the town commissioner, or a private citizen named Frank?
I'm talking about a citizen named Frank, who has posted on this thread.
The story title was "Autistic Teenager deals with bullying, run-ins with local authorities". It ran on March 22, 2008.
I will gladly share the story but it's off the topic of this thread. Give me an area fr the story and me and Larry can tell everything. This is about the laptops. Now that I am no longer suffering from nicotine withdrawal I can sum up the issues in two sentences.
The laptops are macs which are the most useless kind of computer. Whether this whole thing succeeds or fails is dependent on how the kids behave.
My question on the lap tops,how are they going to fit on the seats in the school bus?With the book bags as large as they are and the musical instruments how do we get 2-3 students in a seat?
I have called the transportation dept.and it seems that the transportation director is out of town.
Maybe someone needs to look into the transportation dept.Over the years I have tried to get the transportation director on the phone and it seems she is always out of town.
Someone told me her son is a bull rider and she attends all his rodeos.I'm glad to see are tax dollars are paying her salary.
I think the computers will be replacing the take home text books. That should make those book bags a little smaller. As far as the traportation director goes if she gets her job done I applaude her for attending her sons rodeos. Should her job mean more than her family?
Does anyone know how many computers were taken away this week?My child still has a bag filled with books.I was told that a no. of kids drop ed the comp. on the bus and had them out on the way home.
The comment about the TD going to her sons rodeo get real!
If you are getting paid to do a job
then you need to be there to do it.
How about the DR in the emergency room,oh I have my work done so I guess I'll go home.
I'd like to have a job like that.
You would never get away with that up NORTH.
Maybe that is the way the MGSD works, that is why she has been able to get away with it all these years.
The idea of PC in school is a necessity in todays world. I agree that they should not be taken home. My children have had issues with not being able to reports on wars that mention specifics on weapontry (a good thing;yes) but it increased their reseach time. I'll give the school this year to work out the bugs.
I was against all grades getting computers and believe this will be/is costly and losing venture.
Post a Comment