Laptops For Cobb County Georgia Schools

3/9/05

I have refrained from entering the laptop fray in order to attempt to get a better idea as the to benefits and disadvantages of the idea. I have read with interest the articles in the MJD that show that the program has been, at best, misrepresented. The $75 million grew to over $100 million and no one on the board seems to notice a 33% increase in cost. I am beginning to think that this School Board has decided that they do not have to answer the people of the county.

I understand that some of the members feel safe in their districts because they are Republicans. I have news for you. If this program goes through as planned, without even a reasonable testing period with clear, measurable objectives, I would vote Democrat if necessary to get you out of office. It in not acceptable that such an expense be incurred without some good reason. Just saying that it will help does not cut it. Stating that laptops increased attendance in some other county does not mean that the increase was caused by the laptops. It seems certain to me that as things stand, any SPLOST III will be DOA unless some changes are made. Most people do not respond well to arrogance.

In particular, is this implementation proposed the best? Is Apple the proper choice? I don't think so but I don't know what the decision was based on. Was it cost only? We don't know. Unfortunately, this new technology is not the same as the industry standard. Businesses in general use IBM compatible systems. There are enough differences to cause confusion to the very students we are supposed to be helping. How many Cobb County students do not have a computer now? I think most of them either own or use a computer regularly. Maybe we need to find that out before we spend this kind of money and assume these students are not computer literate.

I have been in the computer industry for many years and I encourage the county to increase the technology level in the schools. Please give the laptops to the teaches. That is a wonderful idea. Provide projectors to the classrooms. I don't have a problem with a true pilot program. A good pilot should include trials at both ends of the school spectrum. A top performing school and a bottom performing school. Perhaps a middle school at both ends and a high school at both ends. There should be concrete objectives including test score evaluations and attendance evaluations. Then and only then can we fairly evaluate the idea.

Creative Spellers don't need laptops in the classroom. They need to LEARN TO SPELL.