Free Lappies!

RobH

RobH

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Theirs bound to be a influx of cheap Laptops soon! Apparently the goverment is to shed out £300 Million for poorer families by giving them free laptops and free broadband, so the mother who wants to help her son/daughter to read can do so.

Now, i thought libraries were free and a good source of reading material available from them......

Won't be long before there on the market.

Rob.
 
now, im not tarring everyone with the same brush with this comment... just some.

These free laptops will be a great source to fund a drug habit!

Or, if they are poor, how do they buy things to put on the laptop to help the kids read :shrug:
 
My parents taught me to read before I started infant school, they used newspapers and - shock horror - real books !! The first book of my own was a paperback of 101 Dalmatians which I still have, I was four when I was given that book.
I don`t believe anyone 'needs' a computer to teach a child to read, I do believe £300 Million would provide homes, or much needed hospital equipment, or help for the elderly, so much could be done for so many with that kind of money.
I make no apology for feeling that if people have children it`s their duty to provide what their children need including spending a few minutes a day with a book they have bought themselves for their child to learn to read from.
 
many schools now require children to have laptops, some provide them, some dont..
 
When I was at primary school I got an old tobacco tin filled with laminated words, and had to read Roger Red Hat books.

It's sad when kids NEED a laptop to learn to read, but as said above,how many of these laptop will go 'missing'.
 
Are they for reading? School homework requires the use of a computer more and more these days.
 
matty said:
many schools now require children to have laptops, some provide them, some dont..
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Require is a bit strong. Many encourage the use of computers, it is part of the national curriculum after all.

nilagin said:
School homework requires the use of a computer more and more these days.
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In primary schools, any children who don't have the use a computer at home will be able to use the schools facilities, the parents just need to make the school aware. My other half is ICT co-ordinator at a large primary school and organises this regularly. I'd imagine this works similarly at secondary schools.

I do wonder though, how much of the £300m is actually being used to pay for the actual equipment though, and how much is paying for the admin and systems to actually implement it.
 
swordjo said:
When I was at primary school I got an old tobacco tin filled with laminated words, and had to read Roger Red Hat books.

It's sad when kids NEED a laptop to learn to read, but as said above,how many of these laptop will go 'missing'.
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Roger Red Hat, Billy Blue Hat, Johnny and Jennifer Yellow Hat who all lived in the village with 3 corners!! Such fond memories!! :D
 
Jim.R said:
In primary schools, any children who don't have the use a computer at home will be able to use the schools facilities, the parents just need to make the school aware. My other half is ICT co-ordinator at a large primary school and organises this regularly. I'd imagine this works similarly at secondary schools.
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My son (12) gets alot of homework including weekends, using school facilities isn't always applicable.
 
Is that homework that can only be done on a computer though? Not just stuff he wants to "type up"?

Also, I'd imagine that he has longer than just the weekend to do it, so staying late one evening or working one lunchtime would be possible? The computer labs were open for pupils at lunch times even back when I was his age (20 years ago!)
 
I'm only 23 however never owned a computer until I was 16, the only reason i got one then was because I was going to college to study ICT, the idea that kids need computers is utter garbage, don't get me wrong computers come in handy (as we all know as we are sitting reading this thread!) but what happened to the days of having to go to the library to research something etc etc!!
 
What you have to remember that the reason some children can't read and write is because there parent(s) can't.
So depending on how the computers are programmed they may be able to help the parents read and write as they teach their children.
 
ohhh don't get me going on this..

my kids didn't need a computer to learn they had me there dad and there teachers...just like i did. yes i understand that times have changed ect ect...

so where is this money coming from???? oh the tax payer in way or the other.
a few points..

why a lap top and not a desk top?????

will they all get printers and ink as well when ever they need it or a memory stick to take to school to print off work.

how is this going to be worked out as i have already had a parent say to me he's gonna get one and i know for a fact he has a lap top and a desk top at home i know because i gave him the lap top when WE bought our daughter a laptop for doing well in her exams....

i also wounder how much "work" will be done and how much "facebooking" will be done..

yet another thing hard working kids miss out on.. (not saying some of them that get these are not) ..one day the govenment may understand that there are kids out there that work hard from not so well off familes but miss out on all sorts..

sorry rant over
 
It's a pathetic vote winner because Labour have done nothing for the poorer families in the last twelve years, remember when Blair clawed back the overpayments on child credit that was their own fault ?
 
GRaham i do agree with you to a point but they have been throwing alot of money at kids EMA's mine can't get it but the bratt down the road turns up at school when he can be bothered and gets it. as my daughter just said they are asked if they have internet acess at home if they say no they get printed work sheets or are allowed to do it in school... other than that they are remined that the libary is a good place to use the internet.
 
Jim.R said:
Is that homework that can only be done on a computer though? Not just stuff he wants to "type up"?

Also, I'd imagine that he has longer than just the weekend to do it, so staying late one evening or working one lunchtime would be possible? The computer labs were open for pupils at lunch times even back when I was his age (20 years ago!)
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When we set homework we have to be mindful of the fact that some children dont have computers/internet at home, for example i will set a research homework, most of the kids try the excuse of ' i havent a computer at home' the school should provide some prevision for pupils without a computer at home, i.e computer availability at lunch times, many schools provide homework clubs where computers are available to pupils after hours. obviously the kids don't seem to understand that a computer isn't actually required to do research anyway, they could look in a book.

I know that my school uses some online maths resources which are given for homework but the pupils are often given time in form to do homework and they provide a maths club for pupils to go one lunch time a week when they can do their homework.

Personally i cant think of a homework that i have set (baring in mind that i havent been in the teaching game for long where a computer was essential for completion. infact its quite nice to get homework in thats hand written, you can usually tell its not a straight copy and paste (especially if its research) and some of the handwriting ive seen is fantastic and probably often seen!


Don't really see whether this is necessary for every poor home to have its simple an attempt to win votes. maybe if they spent the £300m on computers to go into the schools the old ones could be given out instead.
 
whitewash said:
When we set homework we have to be mindful of the fact that some children dont have computers/internet at home, for example i will set a research homework, most of the kids try the excuse of ' i havent a computer at home' the school should provide some prevision for pupils without a computer at home, i.e computer availability at lunch times, many schools provide homework clubs where computers are available to pupils after hours. obviously the kids don't seem to understand that a computer isn't actually required to do research anyway, they could look in a book.

I know that my school uses some online maths resources which are given for homework but the pupils are often given time in form to do homework and they provide a maths club for pupils to go one lunch time a week when they can do their homework.

Personally i cant think of a homework that i have set (baring in mind that i havent been in the teaching game for long where a computer was essential for completion. infact its quite nice to get homework in thats hand written, you can usually tell its not a straight copy and paste (especially if its research) and some of the handwriting ive seen is fantastic and probably often seen!


Don't really see whether this is necessary for every poor home to have its simple an attempt to win votes. maybe if they spent the £300m on computers to go into the schools the old ones could be given out instead.
Click to expand...

now why didn't the powers that be thinkof that
 
gumbo-67 said:
now why didn't the powers that be thinkof that
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who wants an old computer thats been used by school kids and is on its last legs (but more than usable for word processing and general internet) but perhaps isnt up to the demands of CAD design (i.e every computer in my DT department) they have no value and therefore would actually be used for purpose by those actually in need and not flogged on the internet
 
Patch said:
I don`t believe anyone 'needs' a computer to teach a child to read, I do believe £300 Million would provide homes, or much needed hospital equipment, or help for the elderly, so much could be done for so many with that kind of money.
Click to expand...

But not, presumably, do anything by way of pandering to vote-catching gimmickry?
 
If the government are going to spend 300 million on laptops, why not make them like a library book, with the child able to take a laptop home, as and when needed. That way the child would always has access to a laptop to complete necessary course work or research and the laptop stays in the schools possession.

By keeping the laptop the property of the school, the laptop could be locked down to prevent access to certain websites and software that is not required would not be loaded onto the machine.

This would ensure that only those who genuinely needed a laptop for schoolwork got one.
 
From what I have seen on other forums, if you qualify you can get one per child, s if you have four kids, then four lappies.

The scheme is set up so that when you have qualified you get £600 on a visa card that can only be used at certain outlets. It allows you to get a laptop, 3g dongle with 12 months net use and support. You get one use of the card, so it is not like you can get a laptop and then a hairdryer for example with the change from somewhere else. And the retailers who you can buy from are not Currys/comet etc. but some selected educational retailers, from what I can gather. And just like when someone says "NHS supplier", say "educational supplier" and the price doubles. So laptops that retail for £350 and £500 with the last £100 for the support and internet, and the company makes an extra £150 out of HM Gov. Would make more sense to have CUrry/Comet do it and sensible prices, or for the Govt to arrange for your laptop to be delivered with all the bits and you get what you get. That way they can keep the prices down.
 
so it is one per child between 7 and 14...right so what about the kids about to do exams that may need it for extra help via on line tutor sites ect????? oh sorry you do like i do and many other you blinking pay for it or again the libary (sp) is there.. i am very cross about this
 
What a pile of ****E .£300 million .It amazes me that these morons we call Government can always find the odd £300 million here and there to fund absolutely ludicrous schemes .Children need to use their brains ,open books find the answer/solution by reading books ,writing down notes in class ,NOT! just googling it. What brainless idiot suggested his ?!!!! Next they'll be no teachers!!
 
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it's so they can take them into exams and crib the answers from wikipedia in a year or two
 
lots of schools are using sam learning and alike for exam revision so its hardly surprising that the issue has been addressed it just seems too appropriate at the moment for the government to announce at the moment, in some secondary schools there have been schemes for poorer parents to rent laptops for thier kids to use because there are so many internet rescources available to pupils to aid their learning and revision.
 
i pay for my daughters home link to sam learning and have done for a number of years..as i said before i also pay for everything else she needs.. yes to some it may look like we have tonnes of dosh but we don't but i work extra as does hubby so they get this sort of thing... if they are gonna keep doing things for one group they are going to upset the other groups.. i think that is what i am getting at.
 
Jim.R said:
Require is a bit strong. Many encourage the use of computers, it is part of the national curriculum after all.

In primary schools, any children who don't have the use a computer at home will be able to use the schools facilities, the parents just need to make the school aware. My other half is ICT co-ordinator at a large primary school and organises this regularly. I'd imagine this works similarly at secondary schools.

I do wonder though, how much of the £300m is actually being used to pay for the actual equipment though, and how much is paying for the admin and systems to actually implement it.
Click to expand...

:thinking: require isnt a bit strong at all, its errrrr...required by 2 of the 4 schools we looked at for my son. the school will provide if necessary, but we are invited to get our own
 
Matty my son's school requires him to have a laptop.. hence i have said anything about him but that is because he is in the public school system...((waits for the backlash on that one) the army assist with the fees)) were the schools you were looking at upper schools?????
 
I believe that you are given a visa card loaded with a certain amount and are allocated a certain level machine/package. I know that where I work (comet) you are only able to use the money on the card to pay for the certain package, and that any money left over goes back into the pot of money used to get laptops for people. Also, with regards to internet access, I also believe that there is software loaded onto the machine to limit pages that are viewed, although I have no idea how this works.

I don't agree with the scheme however, whilst I was very lucky in that we had a computer in the house when I was at school/college, there did come a point where I did need access to my own machine to do work for my A Levels. At this point I got a part time job in order to get the money to buy my own computer, I did not expect somebody to hand me one to use.
 
I am all for giving children equal opportunites but I agree with others on here that it is a government gimmik. I also think the computers will be used for all the family,not neccessarily for learning, and the kids wont be able to get on the machine because the parents are on facebook etc. It would be interesting too to see how many of the families that qualify for a free laptop, have already found the money to buy X Boxes, Wii's and nintendos, but dont have enough money to pay for a lap top.

evotwo had a good idea- the schools should own the laptops and the kids could borrow them like a library book.
 
matty said:
:thinking: require isnt a bit strong at all, its errrrr...required by 2 of the 4 schools we looked at for my son. the school will provide if necessary, but we are invited to get our own
Click to expand...

So not really required at all then, if the school will provide them?
 
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