One of the nation’s most ambitious programs to equip teachers and students with laptop computers “is no longer an option,” declared Kathie Johnstone, chair of the Cobb County, Ga., school board.
Judge S. Lark Ingram said her ruling had nothing to do with the merits of the district’s “Power to Learn” program. “Fair notice of such use was not given to the public when the referendum for [the sales tax] was held,” Judge Ingram declared.
This story is worth following as reminders about how carefully to implement new technologies with public funds.
Spending public money is political as heck.Judge Lark Ingram ruled last week school officials did not tell voters exactly what they wanted to do with a special options sales tax approved by voters.I don’t know if the teachers were sold on the idea, but the district administration and school board was. It seems to me that they (the board) need to educate the public on why they want to go with a 1-1 laptop program and then have another referendum vote. They did a lot of research before making their decision and I’d hate to see it all be for nothing.I don’t know how widespread the discontent is, but if the number of protestors at the school board meeting is an indication (see video here), they have a great shot at selling the program to the public and passing another referendum. Only the students lose out in the decision (well, they don’t get laptops): the teachers in the district get laptops since the original referendum listed giving teachers “computing devices”.
Good comments, Scotty. I don’t know the facts about this situation. The story reads consistent with this logic: Those who know no do not untie knots. I wonder who and why someone behind the scenes is unhappy with students using individual computing devices.