Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Continued Opposition To Laptops in Schools

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the grinding-for-faction-in-math-class dept.

theskeptic writes "The WSJ has an article about opposition to programs that provide laptops to 6-8th grade kids. Detractors say that the kids are wasting too much time online browsing dangerous sites, instant messaging friends, and posting to Myspace. Parents are worried that serious learning is being neglected in the quest to 'dazzle up presentations with fancy fonts instead of digging through library books.' Some parents however are 'enthusiastic laptop proponents,' one saying the laptop has helped her twelve-year-old son 'master critical professional skills like how to compile a PowerPoint presentation.'" Gaaah.

7 of 528 comments (clear)

  1. We need to talk. by hullabalucination · · Score: 5, Funny

    'the laptop has helped her twelve-year-old son master critical professional skills like how to compile a PowerPoint presentation.'

    I need to talk to that young man. I keep getting this error when trying to compile a PowerPoint presentation:

    make: *** No rule to make target `mindblowingpresentation.powerpoint', needed by `pointyhairedboss.info'

    * * * * *

    All my life, I always wanted to be somebody. Now I see that I should have been more specific.
    --Jane Wagner

  2. Really... by Apocalypse111 · · Score: 5, Funny

    'the laptop has helped her twelve-year-old son master critical professional skills like how to compile a PowerPoint presentation.'

    So now he's prepared to show his friends a 15 minute slideshow about why girls have cooties?

    --
    There is no mod option "-1: Disagree" for a reason. "Overrated" is not an acceptable substitute. Post something instead.
  3. Re:Much ado about nothing? by jcr · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm a halfway competent network administrator...where do I send my resume?

    Sorry, you're overqualified.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  4. Re:Much ado about nothing? by Ruie · · Score: 4, Funny
    Hey....I'm a halfway competent network administrator...where do I send my resume? ^_^)

    Are you close to Boston ? Know bash or Tcl ? Do you have your resume somewhere online ? Thx !

  5. Re:PowerPoint is pointless by debilo · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you cannot read, write, or speak, what good will PowerPoint do for you?

    Well, that's the whole point now, isn't it? Most PowerPoint presentations that I saw led me to believe PowerPoint was made for those who cannot read. Or write. Or speak.

  6. But teacher! by IflyRC · · Score: 4, Funny

    The dog ate my hard drive!!

  7. Re:Much ado about nothing? by spud603 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Computers are far more fragile than books, and more expensive to boot.
    I don't know how much it costs to boot a schoolbook, by my laptop boots for free..
    (couldn't help myself, sorry)