anyone have to buy their kid a laptop for middle school?

[shortylickens]

As others have said, this sounds suspicous, especially if its a public school.
And even if a public school did require them, they'd be obligated to provide the things with school funds or at least provide a super discounted basic laptop that they aquire through the state. And you'd have heard a thousand messages about this already, because parents hate being blindsided and complain loudly when they are.

And the average junior high/middle school kid is likely to break it or lose it or have it stolen.

None of this adds up at all.

 

[ryan256]

Brand new desktop. Less than $500 with monitor.

 

[orakle]

It's a trap.

 

[Delita]

Need update

 

[LurkerSince2001]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: thepd7
no way a 7th grader needs a laptop at a public school. Private school, maybe.

You're from Texas...STFU Nancy boy!!!

The school district in Irving, TX has been running a pilot program to allow EVERY high school student to have a laptop, to be used in the classrooms and at home. One middle school was included in the program, too. I thought they expanded it to the rest of the middle schools, but can't substantiate that. Is the OP's kid by any chance attending DeZavala middle school in Irving??

BUT - the parents don't have to buy them; the district buys them with a grant and issues one to each student, so the wife would still be scamming.

Irving Schools computer program

 

[fleshconsumed]

Originally posted by: ChaoZ
Not even college students need laptops.

I went through college without laptop and I was in CS program.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: thepd7
no way a 7th grader needs a laptop at a public school. Private school, maybe.

the maths and writings are different?

the learning environment is different. Would you feel educated if you graduated high school without knowing anything about computers?

Take that answer and tell me the easiest way to learn about computers?

If a school could require everyday use would they or would they not be better preparing their students for college and the job hunt?

btw, nice to see you started your man-crush on me back up!

dude don't think because I quoted you I even thought about who the poster was.

I graduated in 1989, I knew a lot about computers because I taught myself.

Most of our kids today would fail at the classes/projects I had to do. Their parents are their worse enemy.

I feel too many are making it into college due to too much grade forgiveness even when the assignment is simple.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Hacp

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Not familiar with Michigan, but in NY, schools MAY NOT require students to purchase graphing calculators - but, graphing calculators are REQUIRED for the first 3 years of high school mathematics. The schools must provide them.

Hah that's crazy. I've never owned a graphing calculator and worked my way through 2nd year university calculus (multivariate calc). Having said that, a graphing calculator certainly would have been nice.

They take away your graphing calculators in calculus! They're evil :frown:

Other than Newton's method & perhaps one or two other minor things, why the hell would you need a graphing calculator in calculus?


Also, I don't think that being attached at the umbilical cord to a laptop for 4 or more years of high school is necessary to produce students who can use a computer.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Uh, what? In 7th grade I was doing pre-algebra, reading crappy novellas, learning geography, starting spanish, and doing very basic biology. You don't need a laptop for any of that. Hell, I didn't have a laptop in high school. Fuck, I didn't have a a laptop through the first year of college either. The kid does not need a laptop. Maybe a graphing calculator.

Edit: You say it's an upper-class school. Call the school yourself and ask - if you don't trust the mom, don't.

 

[Polish3d]

Originally posted by: orakle
It's a trap.

LOLOL

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: Modular
This is obviously a ploy as others have mentioned, but in the end, the kid could benefit from a netbook if he/she doesn't have a desktop computer already.

giving a 7th grader a laptop to use whenever/ wherever they want is a bad idea. i have 2 in 7th grade right now (twins) at a very good public school and they dont need laptops. the school has 7 laptops in class for use, as well as 2 computer labs for kids to use. of course i have 3 desktops and 2 laptops available at home for use, which are restricted by content as well as time.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: hanoverphist

Originally posted by: Modular
This is obviously a ploy as others have mentioned, but in the end, the kid could benefit from a netbook if he/she doesn't have a desktop computer already.

giving a 7th grader a laptop to use whenever/ wherever they want is a bad idea. i have 2 in 7th grade right now (twins) at a very good public school and they dont need laptops. the school has 7 laptops in class for use, as well as 2 computer labs for kids to use. of course i have 3 desktops and 2 laptops available at home for use, which are restricted by content as well as time.

I got my daughter a netbook last year. She doesn't use it a ton, but it's useful for school work when she's at her mothers.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: hanoverphist

Originally posted by: Modular
This is obviously a ploy as others have mentioned, but in the end, the kid could benefit from a netbook if he/she doesn't have a desktop computer already.

giving a 7th grader a laptop to use whenever/ wherever they want is a bad idea. i have 2 in 7th grade right now (twins) at a very good public school and they dont need laptops. the school has 7 laptops in class for use, as well as 2 computer labs for kids to use. of course i have 3 desktops and 2 laptops available at home for use, which are restricted by content as well as time.

I got my daughter a netbook last year. She doesn't use it a ton, but it's useful for school work when she's at her mothers.

I would have no problem getting my son a lappy or a netbook but his mom doesn't have the intarwebs. When he is here, he can use either desktop or the laptop.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: NSFW


I would have no problem getting my son a lappy or a netbook but his mom doesn't have the intarwebs. When he is here, he can use either desktop or the laptop.

Is there leachable wifi at mom's? That what my daughter does at her mother's house :^D

 

[Insomniator]

DO NOT BUY HIM A LAPTOP ON HER WORD

If you get him anything, make it a little netbook for like 200 bucks. There is no way a 7th grader is doing anything school related on a computer that requires more power than a netbook. If she wants to swindle a computer out of you, at least make it some crappy one only good for taking notes and surfing the web. Try to get one with dinosaurs or something on it so she'll look like an idiot while using it.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Insomniator
If she wants to swindle a computer out of you, at least make it some crappy one only good for taking notes and surfing the web. Try to get one with dinosaurs or something on it so she'll look like an idiot while using it.

Install a Linux distro without a GUI :^D

 

[MasonLuke]

In my neighborhood, they have to buy one in elementary school.

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: Kadarin

Originally posted by: astroidea
Tablets are awesome for note taking
I got me a nice Thinkpad X41 Tablet for $220 off ebay. 1.5GHz dothan with 2GB DDR2 running win7 is more than enough for a word processing internet machine.

A PENCIL AND PAPER is awesome for note taking, too. Lots cheaper than $220.

I really question the situation in the OP as well. A middle school kid is very likely to damage, destroy, or lose a laptop. What could they possibly be doing with it that would require a student to have one at parental expense?

It saved me many times over with the thousands of pages of lecture notes per quarter that I didn't need to print out, and I don't need several binders filled with those papers to lug around all the time. Not to mention one note is an incredible note taking software. It's nice to have all my lectures recorded with voice recognition to my notes. I can literally push a play button next to any notes that I've jotted down to play the corresponding lecture.

You do make a point about middle school kids damaging or losing things easily. I'd see what kind of kid that person is though.

 

[nutxo]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: tasmanian

Originally posted by: nutxo

Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
No public school would require a 7th grader to bring a laptop to school. Its just not plausible cause what about the low income students.

This. They cant even insist a student have access to a pc at home unless they want to furnish it.

Sounds like someones trying to scam you.

Get on CL. Buy an old p2 laptop that weighs 18lbs and give it to the ex.

Put it on a cart and get a 50ft extension cord, instant laptop.

yeah and lets dumb down the schools so the ghetto tards are taken care of. I am sorry it's time to stop this backwards compatibility nonsense. Even Microsoft got on board.

My kid is heading into a school so good money cant even get a kid into it. Its got nothing to do with being dumbed down. Its about reasonable expectations. Requiring a child to have a laptop is inane. They could carry assignments back and forth on thumb drives ( which btw IS on the list this year)

 

[Delita]

Did you kid end up actually needing the laptop? Inquiring minds need to know.

 

[StinkyPinky]

LOL, laptop for 7th Grade? For what? My Little Pony?

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky
LOL, laptop for 7th Grade? For what? My Little Pony?

My daughter started computer lab in the 3rd or 4th grade, and has been learning typing, Word, and Powerpoint. I'd like to see them get more into the mechanics, and learn basic operation, and troubleshooting/repair for when things go wrong.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: Delita
Did you kid end up actually needing the laptop? Inquiring minds need to know.

negative. But since I got to thinking about it, I am going to clean up my laptop and give it to him. This means that I am going to need a rig for in my room

Sorry I didn't update. Been busy surfing Newegg.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

OK, how many of us here made it through school and didn't need a computer except to play Oregon Trail on?

I bet the OP hopes his ex gets dysentery and dies.

 

[BoomerD]

I definitely agree that kids need ACCESS to computers nowadays...but don't agree that they need their own laptop for school...In such a case, the school district should have to provide one.