It’s 2015, and I try to be open minded. Young kids taking devices to school has become a conversation within my family as of late.
A few weeks ago, I got an email from my 6 year old son’s grade one teacher, that was sent to what seems like all the class parents, asking that we send our children’s devices to school with them.
Let me just start by saying, that I really do love Little Man’s teacher. She is a phenomenal teacher and he loves being in her class. However, the entire situation just rubbed me the wrong way, and I am wondering if this is just the norm now.
The teacher also discussed this with the class, prior to bringing this to the parent’s attention via email so, when I told Little Man: “No.” He understood, but was also quite worried about how “all the other students were going to bring theirs in.” Might I also add, that Little Man doesn’t have a tablet, he has a LeapPad. I am the one that has a tablet, I use it for work. I can’t afford to send that to school with him.
The E-mail- Kids Taking Devices to School
The email started off by saying that his teacher had attended a professional workshop at another school in our district, and had learned from another grade one teacher that had implemented the use of devices in her classroom.
The Ask
The parents were being asked to send their Children’s Tablets or other computer based technologies to school with their kids every day. They would be being used with their “Fairy Tale” unit.
The Reassurances
Little Man’s teacher then went on to ensure that we as parents, knew that the devices would be locked in a cupboard in the classroom when not in use, and closely monitored as they were used.
“If you aren’t comfortable with sending your device to school with your child, this is totally understandable, but it will become very common place in all grades very soon.”
Young Kids Taking Devices to School
Let’s be honest. Humor me here.
I don’t think the kids need to take devices to school. I just do not. Especially when the kid is SIX! I am certainly not comfortable sending a $300 tablet to school with my SIX year old. Who is held responsible if something happens to that device? Especially if it’s someone else’s child that damages it?
If it’s going to become “Very common place in all grades soon” then can’t the school board have an action plan in place to provide classes with this technology? It may be expensive for the school, but it’s also very expensive for the parents, and to me, it’s not necessary. At all. What happened to a good old pen and paper? What happened to the encyclopedia?
What about the kids that can’t afford devices, now we make them feel bad because Harry, Tom and Bertha brought their devices in and they don’t have any? What about the parents with 5 kids in school in different classes? They are supposed to purchase and send 5 different tablets to school? This sounds expensive.
My Closing Thoughts
This may make me sound old in a very “Get off my lawn” and “In my day…” kind of way, but I really don’t see the problem with using a good old book to research, heck the school has a computer lab! Why not use the old school method, of using a desktop computer?! (Never thought I’d say that..) Need a word processor? Use a computer! Better yet, use a damn pencil and paper.
If parents want to let their kids use technologies in the home, then all the power to them! If the school needs them as learning tools, then maybe they need to figure out how to provide them. Do I need to send my devices to school with my young children?! I don’t bloody well think so.
How do you feel about your young Children taking Devices to School? Would you send your Devices?