More judicial activism. What we have here is the courts determining the details of how we incorporate technology into the schools. Because we did not have laptops before, this money cannot be used for laptops now. We must stick with the outdated model of computers labs used for an hour a day. Crazy. We desperately need John Roberts to be confirmed and begin to change this judicial arrogance and tyranny.

Laptops are tools the same as books and pencils. If you don't have a plan for a pencil, you can do some cool things with it. Log cabins, javelins, ceiling ornaments... but most teachers know how to implement the tool in their classroom; as a writing device for students.

If a district is ready to make a computer a useful tool, then that's what they should do. It's better than a lot of other tools. If they're not ready, it'll be a disaster. That is what the bar should be set to.

The problem of course is that the educational system here is so far behind that we have not equipped our schools with the infrastructure to make complex, necessary tools available to kids. We rely on what got us by; chalkboards and lame textbooks. This is why the USA lags.

Great idea! Give all the kids laptops so when they infest it with kazaa and trojans their parents can pay me to fix it! >:)

Kids don't need computers in school. They need to learn to READ and WRITE and DO MATH. There would not be computers available to the world today if learning the basics required a computer in the first place. Computers in schools is just a ploy to give teachers an "electronic babysitter" similar to what parents have at home in the guise of TVs, video game consoles, iPods, and yes, computers.

A pox on all their houses for taking such a cavalier attitude towards the learning and development of children.

Giving students a laptop for school use is a great thought, but give them a choice between a PC laptop and an iMac. I wonder: when it happens (because it will evenutally), what would the schools do when students are messaging or gaming in class all day and all night at home? I'm not saying all are like this. It's just a thought as well.

Georgia? It makes sense, but not for the reasons stated.

The core of OS X is Darwin. Only the blind don't realize that it's an attempt by evolutionists to infiltrate the delicate minds of Georgian youth.

Please! What an idiot!

Where did you pull that one out of? Can you say Jim Jones. All those stupid enough to even consider your comment as intelligent thought, need to drink the koolaid. America will be a better place without fanatical, idiotic, extremist individuals like yourself. A Georgian youth has more intelligence than you.

Who screwed with your mind?

missed the joke....eh?

If there was a joke there, than I am sorry. But that comment just rubbed me the wrong way.

The Darwin kernel is supposed to be an allusion to Charles Darwin, the author of 'Origin of Species'. That seemed somewhat obvious. It is just a funny quip to elude to the controversy regarding evolution in the Bible belt.

I don't know what all the fuss is about. It's pretty clear that the voters specified that the money was to be used to replace old computers, not give everyone new laptops. It'd be like the country voting Al Gore to be president, but putting George Bush in office. Oh...wait...

So stupid. I hate Americans like that. Just let the kids have laptops so they can learn! It's not a difficult decision.

I agree. I live in Georgia, I was hoping to see this program actually work so that maybe they would implement similar programs throughout the state. I've graduated from high-school and am entering college but it would have been cool to see my little brother bringing him a laptop to do his homework on. Would have really been a technological leap. But of course, bureaucracy wins again.

No, ignorance wins again. No wonder the USA has placed in 18th place in education, in the world, according to the UN.

laptops isn't the answer, the educational system needs reform, not squandering taxpayers money to not only provide laptops, but replace, repair, etc. You're talking about a whole other infrastructure that would need to be built on top and quite obviously would end up having many more problems...

Other countries use the same system and yet they aren't in the same trouble. i.e. Canada is 4th in the world. It is those who think that their tax dollars are more important than their child's future that is the problem. This is not "squandering" money.

When it comes to a child's future nothing else is more important. It is just that Americans don't value education all that much and the numbers prove this fact. Americans should be ashamed at the condition of their educational system when compared to other 1st world nations.

You can tell how truly great a nation is by how it treats its children and those less well off. The US is getting a failing grade as the gap between the rich and the poor gets ever wider.

Duke provided iPods to all incoming freshmen last year without a plan as to their pedigogical use. Duke wasted a lot of money by doing this and has massively retrenched from this program. Throwing out laptops without a plan for their pedigogical use is a waste. Is there a plan for using these laptops for qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis teaching purposes, two very valid uses of a laptop? Is there a specific plan for their use in music education, journalism education, art education....etc? If not, they are a waste and actually, worse than a waste, could be a technological diversion away from the pedagogical planning and implementation that needs to occur. And by "pedagogical", I mean attention to the art and science of teaching and learning. Playing with a tech toy does not equal learning something useful or creative, in my opinion. Using a technology to meet specific educational objectives and to efficiently and effectively have an integrated, concept-based, contextualized and challenging curriculum is a valid use of a technology. Americans will not gain from being dilettantes with its technologies. We will become more of a sick joke than we already are to the rest of the world.

their-->there

I agree, an iPod is not a learning tool. A laptop is, though.

I agree, laptops aren't the answer. Those that believe throwing a laptop at education will turn about higher test scores are moronic. Though computers should be an education tool, it is not meant to bring about the change that they think will be achieved.

And your right, most people don't even understand the additional problems that this will cause. This is, in part a marketing ploy by Apple to put product back into the school market. A market they lost some time ago. And then there is the debate over Apple and PC. True education should include both.

I was an educator for eight years, and used to teach Technology Education to Middle School and High School students. Technology is not used appropriately in education as of yet(though I am sure there are some great instances out there). These examples need to be hightlighted so others can follow.

Sure, there are expensive and beautiful computer labs, but for the most part not used effectively. And as I have said, I know there are some great uses out there, don't tell me, but tell those school districts that are in need of examples in using technology correctly.

You are right, education is important. You have a computer. When you bought it, did you feel any more knowledgeable? Did your IQ raise a point or two? NO! It is not technology that is the problem, but in how it is used. It is a tool, and it needs to be used appropiately. No one could question taxpayer money being spent on education as long as there is a sound plan on its use in the classroom. I question that plan, not the buying of computers.

I have several computers, therefore I should be President. I have all this knowledge at my fingertips. If I email, isntant message, mp3, and the like, the tool is useless. I am not smarter for just having a PC.

And your comment "You can tell how truly great a nation is by how it treats its children and those less well off." So, caring about children and giving our money to others is a sign of a great nation - not the education of our youth.

Politicians and fanatical groups are killing education. And now we have Apple trying to take back a market that it lost a few years ago. They only have one agenda, and it isn't the educational needs of our children. There needs to be a plan on how to use this tool in education. The computer in and of itself will not achieve the results that people are led to beleive will.

Thank you for your comment. Someone who actually can think and make an intelligent comment. I agree. You are the one that is needed in our schools today. Not some fat politician pushing the agenda of someone else or group.

Let the others take their pot shots. They are comparing apples to oranges. The criteria upon which they are evaluated is different than ours. My educational background has always told me that you cannot compare statistical data in this way. It is misleading. What Japan does is different than us and so on. That argument can only stand if we use the same evaulative measures.

Both can be a "tool" if used appropriately and with a specific educational goal in mind. You can learn different things from each. How it is used and by which method it will be evaluated is the key.

Actually, my spelling and grammar improved greatly after I got a computer. I went to school before computers were cheap and popular. Its a tool which makes learning more interesting. I never said that having a computer made you smarter. It just makes it easier to learn since, unlike a teacher, it can spend all of its time with you and never gets bored.

As to your comment about a great nation. Education IS a major part of how we care for our children as well. It helps them be more productive and happier adults. The USA is failing on that regard.

The computer did not make you a better speller. You just used it in an appropriate way to become a better speller. That is what we are talking about. The computer in and of itself will not make you any smarter. You may be an intelligent person and I am not knocking you, but my point is that the computer did not make you that way.

Too many politicians and people like this Butch Thompson are the problem with education. Everyone thinks they know what is best. Too many hands in the cookie jar - so to speak. Granted we may not be truly as informed about this situation, but I would like to know more. It sounds as if he has issues with the School board. He may be using this as a political campaign issue.(former commissioner)