Students get free laptops

Students at two Rowland Unified schools received free laptops this week, and the excitement was palpable.

 

Fifth-graders at Oswalt Academy try out the new computers.

Pebbles Tsai takes pictures with a photo program, with help from teacher Lisa Rodriguez, right. Grandmother Meilin Tsai looks on.

Fifth- and sixth-graders and their teachers at Oswalt Academy and Ybarra Academy of the Arts and Technology were given the Apple Notebook computers through the Laptop Learning Program, which provides students full-time use of the computers, at home and school, regardless of economic background.

School district officials said many of the students from the Walnut schools do not have computers at home.

Officials said that teachers and parents report that students who participate in these kinds of programs are more involved in learning activities and spend more time on schoolwork.

-- Beth Shuster

Photo credits: Gina Ward

Comments

[Caron Hutchinson]

I am a parent of a child at Ybarra Academy. These computers are not free! We have had to pledge over $1300 dollars, over the next 3 years, to pay for our son's computer. Apple must be rubbing their hands together with glee at providing not very impressive computers, at a great cost, in a monopoly situation where the parents ended up with very little choice other than to pay up. Please, readers, do not jump up for for joy thinking that this great phenomenon is coming to a place near you soon - if it does, make sure you have your check book or credit card close at hand!

[KIM SMITH]

What is going on here wht aren't there any lap tops being given to schools in our black communities there are some who too would like to have the expirence of learning the field of computors being able to do their work. The kids are all minorities butIsee there is a bit of favortism going on when it comes to opportunities at our schools. The mayor seems to be only opening the doors for the children and people of his culture and this is unfair. If I see it as an adult what do you think our afro american children see. this also causes lack of respect for hispanic from afro american children I truely hope thatObama is placed in office hopefully he will be here for everyone and not just afro american like Varilligosa has been for the mexicans

[Brenda Garcia]

Reading this article puts a really good feeling inside of me. It actually puts a smile on my face to know that under priviledged children are getting the help they need in school. Receiving free laptops is really going to make a true impact on the lives of these young children, and encourge them to be more involved with school. However, i feel that MORE of this should be happening in different schools, in different countries. There are too many under priviledged children who really need all the help they can get, and if they were to receive a free laptop, it would be a tremendous amount of help. Its possible, but sometimes I believe that the people who can make this possible seem to lose focus on what really matters and just stick their heads in the sand and pretend like there is nothing going on.

[Judith]

I'm glad that kids are getting more technology in their schools. They get an early head start on many advances now a days. I remember in my elementary years, about 6-7 years ago that we didn't have laptops, we just used regular computers. Elementary students are already getting involved in the technological era.

[fullaccess]

To the Ybarra parent:

Apple 1:1 made this program available to our district and only 2 schools wanted to participate in it - Oswalt and Ybarra. If you have priced a MacBook, you know the cost to be about $1300. Besides the fact that the computers are financed over 3 years, there is no interest and no credit check. Every summer the laptop will be reimaged and the software updated. Tech support and loaners are available. By the end of 3 years, it will have the current upgrades to the software. Plus, the laptops are insured. So, still think you got a raw deal? Go into a classroom and look at those kids faces. Some students really don't have these at home and this is opening up the world to them. We already have 2 at home, but I wouldn't deny my child this opportunity. Think of it as an investment in our global society, not just for your own child.

[Kristin Swift-Ramirez]

I fully supported this program even before I knew the cost. Competition is only getting stronger in our children's education and I see this as a tool to push my children that much farther. The cost of the Apple is much less than if you were to walk into the Apple store to buy a laptop for yourself. There was additional programs and textbooks loaded onto these computers as well as insurance. Plus the fact that the software is going to be updated on a yearly basis for 3 years so your computer will ALWAYS be up to date. I think if parents really did their homework it would be apparent that what Apple charged was not outrageous!! This is an opportunity I was NOT going to let my children miss out on and I am glad that Oswalt Academy stepped up to the plate to start such a program. Thanks to the support of Oswalt's Principal and the many Oswalt PTA parents that made this program happen at our school. I support this program 100% and hope many more parents see the benefits as well!! Not everything in life is free.

[Parent]

I think it's sad, that in todays society we still have discrimination, ignorance and lack of ownership for our children. I don't understand how someone can turn this wonderful opportunity into a negative. What does Obama and Villarigosa have to do with this ? Walnut is primary an asian community. So before you jump on the being discriminated against wagon, eduacate your self. Nothing is free. Oswalt parents paid $1300 for our child lap-top. We were not forced to do so. Our children have a wonderful chance to learn something new. Why would we deny it. Would we deny them knowledge. Not unless we didn't inform ourselfs. So next time you drive thru starbucks, buy a video game, toy. Think is this worth more than my childs education?

[SHAMIM]

What is going on here wht aren't there any lap tops being given to schools in our black communities there are some who too would like to have the expirence of learning the field of computors being able to do their work. The kids are all minorities butIsee there is a bit of favortism going on when it comes to opportunities at our schools.