This’ll be interesting

At least kids won’t sleep through class

— IF YOU’RE the parent of a teen, the talker of the week must have been the story about the muchacclaimed Technology Plan that Fayetteville’s school board just approved. If all the plans of an army go out the window on first contact with the enemy, this carefully designed plan may meet the same fate once it’s put into practice with live teenagers.

What were they thinking? Or were they?

According to dispatches, students may soon be able to bring their computers to school. Excuse us, make that Computer Devices. It’s the rule for technospeak and educanto in general: Never use one word when two can be found.

Computer Devices could include everything from laptops to iPads to the next model wrist-watch. Those of us of a certain age are no longer surprised by what the internet can provide these high-tech days. Soon we’ll be getting iTunes in our teeth fillings.

Last week Fayetteville’s school board approved an outline for computer use over the next three years. Which seems harmless enough. But then word got out that the outline included letting kids bring their own Computer Devices to school. Or, as a news story put it, there’s a Bring Your Own Device movement out there, and Fayetteville’s caught up in it.

If calmer heads don’t get involved and this thing goes through, students will be allowed to bring their laptops, tablets and netbooks to school—and use them during class. Those who like the idea say it would free up the school’s computers for those who can’t afford their own.

Okay. Now consider all the ways this idea could go bad:

—Is having the latest computer going to end up as yet another highschool status symbol? Of course it is. If teens are judging each other by the shoes they wear, what will they do when some kid behind the times shows up with only a simple XJ-5000 from 2011, and one without a touch screen at that? And you’re really using a mouse with a cord? Whatever, dude.

—If $20 books and $40 shoes are stolen regularly in schools nationwide, and they are, imagine the temptation when somebody leaves a $600 laptop on the next desk.

—And here’s the biggest question: What’s to keep the kids from playing Angry Birds during math class? And posting on Facebook during the lesson on the Civil War? If you’re the parent of a teen, then you well know how distracted they can get once they’ve fired up their iPads. If they can’t hear you asking them to take out the garbage, how much attention are they going to pay to a civics teacher?

Oh, this is going to be interesting—if it all goes as planned. Let’s hope it doesn’t. To assure that happy ending, make the young geniuses leave their computers at home. The kids do enough damage with those things without bringing them to school. The classroom is no place to veg out in front of the latest snowboarding accidents on YouTube.

Computers are indeed important in the classroom. You’re not getting much preparation for today’s world, let alone tomorrow’s, if you aren’t learning how to type, or download e-files. We doubt the teachers in computer class are letting students goof off on Facebook when they’re supposed to be learning. Why should other teachers invite those distractions?

Oh, and another thing: You kids get off our lawn.

Editorial, Pages 16 on 03/07/2012

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