I'm curious to know what people think of the following article…

School's iPad Requirement 'Divisive'

Caralise Moore And Jessica Tasman-Jones
19th July 2011

Source Article Here:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/nationa…..t-divisive

An Auckland state school that has put the latest iPad on its "compulsory stationery list" could be creating a two-tiered schooling system, a Labour education spokeswoman says.

Decile-nine Orewa College has told parents the iPad 2 will be a compulsory stationery item for all year nine pupils next year.

The device sells for between $799 to $1148.

While the school tells parents other 'one-to-one' devices are acceptable, a letter to parents expresses a preference for the iPad.

Labour education spokeswoman Sue Moroney said low-income families who were already finding it difficult to make ends meet were going to struggle to come up with that kind of money.

"I think what we've got to be careful of is that we don't end up with a two-tier education system where we put low-income families in a really embarrassing situation – one in which they can't provide their child with really expensive technology and therefore limit their education," she said.

Orewa College principal Kate Shevland said the school's computers would provide an option for those who could not get the money together for the iPad.

"We realise times are tough," she said. "So we are looking at the possibilities of funding or support. That is why we have given parents and students so much time – half a year."

Ms Shevland said the school was recommending pupils bought iPad 2s instead of laptops or netbooks because of their longer battery life and portability.

The college has held four meetings with parents to discuss the challenges of introducing the iPad as standard equipment for pupils.

"The feedback has been varied but most see this as a way of the future. It is just how we do it that is important."

"We had a similar process when we introduced things like calculators to stationery lists instead of supplying students with them ourselves."

Ms Moroney said it was not just low-income families that were struggling financially in the present economic climate. Middle-income families were also finding it tough.

With less money being spent by the Government on education, financial burdens were being shifted on to parents.

"We [Labour] think it needs to be a commitment from the Government to see information technology provided across all schools and across all families in those schools."

Ms Moroney said improving children's access to computers was an important way of bridging the social divide.

Raewyn Fox, chief executive of the New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services, said some parents already struggled to pay for uniforms and school camps without worrying about buying expensive equipment such as iPads.

Many families might have to go without something else in their budget to fund the iPads, she said.

"Parents quite often put their kids' education absolutely first and they will pay for that before paying for food or paying for the

power bill or something like that."

The Education Ministry said it was up to individual schools to decide which tools would best support pupils' learning as they progressed through the schooling system.

Schools should work with parents and local communities to ensure all pupils had equitable access to such tools, it said.

Read the school's letter to parents here:  http://orewa.school.nz/dms/ima…..4_June.pdf