[P1] iBook article in the NYT

[Michael Flournoy]

I know for a fact that my son ( 14 ) has learned a LOT more than I did 
at his age. Not that I let on, though!
One of the issues is the incredible load of heavy  books the kids are 
carrying. It is hoped that as subjects are switched to computer this 
will lessen. This sounds trivial but it is not, I have to strain to 
pick up my sons backpack and he never carries them all. I live near 
Henrico county and the program has had mixed reviews in the local media 
but all the kids and parents I have talked to like it. They are very 
tight on what can be put on the iBooks, they are treated as very nice 
tools, not toys. Some teachers don't like it, others love it, but most 
seem to just accept them as yet another change to adapt to. I know that 
some of the homework/projects my son has had would have been nearly 
impossible to do in the timeframe allowed without the computer. My son 
has had friends that had Playstations but no computer. Some people live 
in a world where they never use a computer and don't understand why 
their kids should need one, others just can't afford it.
            Mike

On Wednesday, March 5, 2003, at 10:00  AM, Jack Rodgers wrote:

> On Wednesday, March 5, 2003, at 08:35  AM, Jonathan Fletcher wrote:
>
>> Great article about Maine's iBook program for 7th and 8th graders in 
>> the NYT. Grades up and dropouts and discipline problems down. Apple 
>> is never mentioned in the article, but the word "iBook" is used late 
>> in the article and Henrico County, VA is also mentioned. Well 
>> informed Apple fans know that both of these programs are 
>> iBook-centric.
>
> While recognizing the worth of the computer, I wonder if computerizing 
> the schools makes the kids learn more? Have there been any independent 
> tests to compare the knowledge acquired by today's kids versus kids 
> from 40 or 50 years ago? Are they any better in math. Do they spell 
> better, write better, etc. Taking a typing class and using a 
> typewriter did not improve my knowledge base nor my writing skills, it 
> just made my misspelled words easier to read.
>
> Granted, when my trig teacher refused to take any more questions from 
> me after I took him through six weeks of future classes with my 
> questions in one afternoon, I might have found refuge in Apple's 
> calculator with its graphs, etc.
>
> ---
>
> Break the Rules! Use a Sprint PC Connection Card with a tiBook:
> <http://www.powerpage.org/story.lasso?newsID=10220>
>
> jackrodgers at earthlink.net
> http://www.jackrodgers.com
>
>
> ----------
> iBookList, a listserv for users and fans of Apple's iBook.
> FAQ at <http://www.themacintoshguy.com/lists/iBookListFAQ.shtml>
>
> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <ibook-off at lists.themacintoshguy.com>
> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to 
> <ibook-digest at lists.themacintoshguy.com>
> Need help from a real person? Try.  
> <ibook-request at lists.themacintoshguy.com>
> ----------
> Small Dog Electronics    http://www.smalldog.com   | Enter To Win A |
>  --  Canon Digital Camcorders start at $799       |  Free iBook!   |
>
> iBookPlanet.com |  Visit iBookPlanet.com for the hottest
>                |  iBook News, Features, Reviews & More.
>
>   RoadTools $30 PodiumPad available at Apple retail stores, $20 
> Traveler  CoolPad at Staples. Both in white for iBooks at 
> <http://roadtools.com>
>
> MacResQ Specials: LaCie SCSI CDR From $99! PowerBook 3400/200 Only 
> $879! Norton AntiVirus 6 Only $19! We Stock PARTS! 
> <http://www.macresq.com>
>