Laptops in schools, seriously. Theres no need for em. For university it makes sense but school... I think not.
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Crazy School
- Thread starter redking31591
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Especially in high school where that argument doesn't apply and the administration is the judge, jury, and executioner.
Everything they say goes. They don't have to change or make concessions for anyone... and they won't.
If it's public school, no. While your tax money may be somewhat going there, you're really not paying for it.
A lot of high schools offer online courses free of charge to students at their own expense for credits or even college credits.
Back when I graduated high school (2006, wasn't that long ago!) I took, well, planned to take, and online course. I didn't even think to bring a laptop to school, much less for anything else. They ended up canceling it though, so I'm not sure if my view would have changed, but probably not. Only at college did I start to use the laptop more, but even now I can learn to do without. Kids these days are terribly spoiled. I grew up on DOS and early Windows95 haha.
In my school (UK equivalent of high school), we are allowed iPods in class if it doesn't distract us (so yes in art/IT/English etc, but no in Maths/Physics etc), we're allowed Mobiles for music/internet use, or if we need to make an important call, such as if you forgot to print off your coursework, and so you ring your parent to ask them to email it for you. That brings me to my next point. They totally support use bringing in our own laptops. They have their own, but it is widely accepted that they suck (even by the IT department) and so they don't care about use bringing in Laptops. I find it really useful for some classes such as IT, or writing essays for English/History/Sociology. Sadly, they won't let us use the school wi-fi as they don't won't some little sod loading a virus onto it, but apart from that, they totally support it. Also, if you take proper care into where your laptop is, how could it get stolen. I keep mine in my bag, on my back at all time, accept when in classes where i don't need it, where my bag is by my feet; in classes where i d use it, it is in front of me. The only time someone could get to it would be in Games (GYM), but i don't bring my Macbook in for Games.
I'm a senior in High School and I bring my Macbook for certain classes. Mostly my programming class, I'm taking a C++ course but the computers at school erase everything on them at every reboot, fine for many things but extremely frustrating for development. I don't go around showing it off (zomg I have a shiney laptop!!1!!). It stays in its sleeve in my binder, I take it out for the classes that I use it in, use it as a tool, and when I go to my next class its gone back into my binder. 
I think that the issue is mostly about responsibility and how you intend to use it.
I think that the issue is mostly about responsibility and how you intend to use it.
I can see a laptop in a HS if the school allows and is willing to support it. I mean, even though laptops for HS might seem like a no-no to some of us, it is very interesting how advancing technology is making way to classrooms.
Think about it. I graduated in 2006 from HS and I remember that during my early years in Primary, we had no computer lab. Then all of a sudden, we had one (parents said it was a bad idea since kids don't need one). Today, its become the norm or essential for some that a school provides at least 1 computer lab with at least 25 computers. Times changed. I never need a laptop for HS or MS, I could manage well.
However, times are changing and in todays demanding world, kids in HS are more likely to need a laptop sooner than college. Heck, my HS is now offering web notes. This is basically during class, when your teacher writes class notes on the board like any other board, but the board records that and creates a file which is sent up the school's website, Blackboard, and then pupils can download their notes. So in the end, students have no excuse of having no notes. I mean, those boards were set up a year after I left.
Laptops in the next years are going to make their way in High schools and pretty soon students are going to need them.
As for now, respect your school's policy, they will eventually see the light.
Think about it. I graduated in 2006 from HS and I remember that during my early years in Primary, we had no computer lab. Then all of a sudden, we had one (parents said it was a bad idea since kids don't need one). Today, its become the norm or essential for some that a school provides at least 1 computer lab with at least 25 computers. Times changed. I never need a laptop for HS or MS, I could manage well.
However, times are changing and in todays demanding world, kids in HS are more likely to need a laptop sooner than college. Heck, my HS is now offering web notes. This is basically during class, when your teacher writes class notes on the board like any other board, but the board records that and creates a file which is sent up the school's website, Blackboard, and then pupils can download their notes. So in the end, students have no excuse of having no notes. I mean, those boards were set up a year after I left.
Laptops in the next years are going to make their way in High schools and pretty soon students are going to need them.
As for now, respect your school's policy, they will eventually see the light.
Honestly, if your school is so technologically behind, your parents should already have a computer at home, if you need it so bad.
I mean, at least you have computers in your school OP. It took 3 years for my school to pick up a grant to buy new computers. We were stuck with really bad computers loaded with Windows 98, until now...
The laptop really isn't a need in school. Even if you don't connect to the net, there is no way for the teacher to know if you are even taking notes. You could be playing a game or just being off track.
Like Stetrain, for my programming and architecture classes, I took my iBook to school. I needed to be able to visually learn what I needed to know. Plus, each kid's allotted HDD size was very small. For any other class...math, science, and history, a pen or pencil is the most efficient way to learn.
I mean, at least you have computers in your school OP. It took 3 years for my school to pick up a grant to buy new computers. We were stuck with really bad computers loaded with Windows 98, until now...
The laptop really isn't a need in school. Even if you don't connect to the net, there is no way for the teacher to know if you are even taking notes. You could be playing a game or just being off track.
Like Stetrain, for my programming and architecture classes, I took my iBook to school. I needed to be able to visually learn what I needed to know. Plus, each kid's allotted HDD size was very small. For any other class...math, science, and history, a pen or pencil is the most efficient way to learn.
I"m not sure I understand you completely...was that response supposed to be at me or the OP? If it was at me I'm not sure it made sense (or I just didn't read it right, which is 100% possible).
All I was saying is what my local High School (and the middle school now too, if my newspaper is correct) gives all students a MacBook. They ALL have them. So...they aren't brats. They have to have them at school. If you weren't responding to my post then just ignore this...
Haha, I quoted you at first because I thought of writting a response at first, but latter decided not too but kept the quote in there.
I actually like the idea of having a whole class with computer. Instead of just taking notes, it can become a real learning tool by allowing easy sharing of things with the whole class. I also like the idea of "web campuses" allows you to have all the info you need for your course in one place.
But then again many classes probably don't need the computer at all. Say math for example, the teacher can show you some stuff with some software such as further uses of what you are seeing through math software or say show 3d models of things in geometry classes, I know lots of people have trouble visualizing those problems, tools like sketchup can do that very easely. But for the rest, especially the students, the notes are minimal and quite hard to type in on a computer. Then again, that's class where even in university the laptop note takers are minimal. After some thought, I guess you're not really brat if you want to take notes on a computer in high-school, some people in my class used to rewrite their notes on a computer afterwards. I think most of will still admit that being the only one in class with a noteook is trying to get some sort of superiority in some cases and also creates a non-existant necessity for others.
Sorry for the spelling I'm on a really old computer with Internet Explorer, no spell cheker and french is my first language.