16 grand is indeed not a small chunk of change for just 20 pages.
I downloaded and paid the buck. It gave me the opportunity to see whether it was worth proceeding. I can't say as it really grabbed me. I might get the next installment but that's only to see if it picks up.
One thing that this shows me is that the author that uses this "pay as you go" scheme might have to change his writing style to make sure that interest is developed early on.
Actually, I suspect that, by todays standards, the founding fathers were extremely conservative and probably would have approved of dire measures to protect children... That is, if they could deal with the meaning of our credit based economy. I doubt that they would have seen this as a freedom of speech issue. More like an invasion of privacy.
I had a problem with them allowing kids to use calculators.
I think that kids should learn to rely more on the computers planted squarely between their shoulders first.
In order to build a self supporting structure you need a solid foundation. Rote learning, as much as we all hated it was a necessary first step in our education. It laid the foundation. We learned to read, write, and do basic math skills upon which we built our technical skill.
Granted, 'learning' the basics was harder for some than for others. Drilling the math tables and doing reading exercises was tedious but because of that the skills were reinforced to the point where we don't need a calculator to tell us what 9x9 is. It's sad to see how many folks can't easily perform that simple calculation. It's easy for them to justify not learning it because they have the technological crutches but it sure would be nice if they didn't have to go chase down a calculator to do the most basic math.
As far as the research angle goes, computers in libraries and resource rooms as well as homes should cover this purpose.
I'm pretty sure that the laptop thing is just another quick fix to 'Problem with education in America Today'. It isn't and it won't. It will be another costly experiment (anyone remember the "new" math). Costly in dollars and in time wasted.
Slashdot Mirror
As long as there are geeky, curious, humans, I don't think this will be a problem.
I downloaded and paid the buck. It gave me the opportunity to see whether it was worth proceeding. I can't say as it really grabbed me. I might get the next installment but that's only to see if it picks up.
One thing that this shows me is that the author that uses this "pay as you go" scheme might have to change his writing style to make sure that interest is developed early on.
...don't skin flakes become part of the public domain and hence are no longer subject to privacy claims?
Actually, I suspect that, by todays standards, the founding fathers were extremely conservative and probably would have approved of dire measures to protect children... That is, if they could deal with the meaning of our credit based economy. I doubt that they would have seen this as a freedom of speech issue. More like an invasion of privacy.
make it a PocketPenguin? ...and can I reserve trademark rights to that name?
I think that kids should learn to rely more on the computers planted squarely between their shoulders first.
In order to build a self supporting structure you need a solid foundation. Rote learning, as much as we all hated it was a necessary first step in our education. It laid the foundation. We learned to read, write, and do basic math skills upon which we built our technical skill.
Granted, 'learning' the basics was harder for some than for others. Drilling the math tables and doing reading exercises was tedious but because of that the skills were reinforced to the point where we don't need a calculator to tell us what 9x9 is. It's sad to see how many folks can't easily perform that simple calculation. It's easy for them to justify not learning it because they have the technological crutches but it sure would be nice if they didn't have to go chase down a calculator to do the most basic math.
As far as the research angle goes, computers in libraries and resource rooms as well as homes should cover this purpose.
I'm pretty sure that the laptop thing is just another quick fix to 'Problem with education in America Today'. It isn't and it won't. It will be another costly experiment (anyone remember the "new" math). Costly in dollars and in time wasted.