12yo needs an Ipad for school?

[Fran27]

I got to ask... am I the only one shocked by this statement? Ok I have no idea how school works these days. Heck when I was in school, all the American shows I watched showed kids doing their homework on the computer... I never did my homework on the computer. Is it expected now?

The woman who posted that her kid needs an Ipad for school doesn't have much money, and feels bad because her other kids want one too (at 8), but thinks her 12yo needs one, and loves reading too so it would help (doesn't reading on an Ipad hurt your eyes? I can't imagine).

So, I'm confused. Should I expect to spend $600 per kid in electronics in 8 years? Of course I keep seeing people buy tablets for their 2yo kids so I guess it shouldn't surprise me, but man... heck I don't have a tablet (or feel the need for one... my laptop is just easier to use!).

[CaliTerp07]

NO. No child needs an ipad for school. If they do, it's a private school and/or the school has a grant and is providing them.

My school absolutely requires children in middle school to have access to computers. We are a low income, title 1 school with over 50% of kids below the poverty line though, so we know kids don't all have computers at home. We offer after school time 3 days a week with access to computers, allow kids to check out technology like a textbook to take home when appropriate (graphing calculators, netbooks, etc), and utilize computers in the classroom as much as possible.

No parent should feel obligated to provide an ipad. All parents should make an effort to give their children access to a computer when needed, whether it's at home, at the library, at a friend or relative's house, or by staying after school.

[Kat09Tails]

My sister's kids are in elementary school and yes - they do *have* to have a computer with internet for homework. Now - there are low income alternatives to having that access but it's certainly not as convenient as pushing on on switch after dinner.

I seriously doubt little johnny or susie needs an I Pad by name. They probably just need a computer to use for 30 minutes at a time and the school suggested something user friendly and child size like an I pad.

Times change - in high school I had to have a TI 85 calculator for my trig class. Cost was $85 or I could do my homework in the library and borrow a calculator. My mom griped about the cost since she never needed a calculator but in the end we bought the stupid calculator.

[Locke]

IPads aren't really for "work". They're mainly for fun. They don't even have usb ports or anything..

[smkie]

No 12 year old I know here has to have an ipad for school. Frankly no 12 year old I know here Has an ipad and most of the adults do not either.

Hyia gets...imagine it, books and a library card. THat is what my 12 yr old uses to do her work.

[Renee750il]

I can't imagine they *NEED* one of their very own, but computer access and doing homework and working on projects via computer is vital today, not because it's required by the school but because that is what's going to be required at higher levels of education -- and in the workforce.

I don't know of any schools, though, that don't provide computer access to students, and it's available at libraries as well. Kind of a pain, but it's there.

[milos_mommy]

Some private schools do require them, but they're provided through tuition, rented out and returned at the end of the year. Same with laptops.

Shelling out $600 for an Ipad might not happen, but $100 for a calculator, $$ for field trips and sports uniforms and dances and book sales....high school is EXPENSIVE. School supplies alone, just pen, papers, notebooks, is gonna run about $100 a year per kid.

And unless you plan on your kids spending hour upon hour in the library every night, and shelling out money for USB drivey things and hard drives or whatever, you can plan on your kid doing hours worth of HW on the computer - and with two kids in HS, you'll either need two computers or a REALLY good way of working out a schedule.

ETA:

In HS here, all homework is electronic. Teachers email you assignments or post them online. You can expect assignments to include various aspects of social media, blogging, etc. ALL papers must be typed, usually handed in hard copies, but sometimes emailed. Powerpoint projects are common. Video projects need to be uploaded to youtube, often an account provided by a teacher. Videos are usually group projects, and someone in the group is expected to have access to some kind of video camera. If not, the teacher will usually loan it out.

[Romy]

This thread reminded me:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11...cking_android/

[Renee750il]

That's awesome, Romy!

Last time mom was wailing about no one teaching her how to use the iPad my sister sent her (a discard), I told her the story about Apple putting iPads in the hands of kids in undeveloped countries who had never SEEN a computer and how they had them figured out and were using them in no time.

The other night they figured out how to turn it on, all by themselves

[Fran27]

Yes but an Ipad? I would understand a laptop or something, but the last technology seems a little bit excessive for a 12yo.