am i wrong?

[Gary A.]

Granted, under your scenario, life isn't fair ... but the school is holding all the cards ... just file this under "Picking Fights You Can Win" ... or ... "Picking Fights Worth Fighting".

I know a few people ... stupid people ... who look at every act as personal and winning/losing. They mindlessly argue everything, without listening, just so they 'win'. The 'universe' isn't against you ... the 'universe' doesn't gives a rat's about you, or anyone else for that matter. Again, just file this away as a lesson learned and move on, a bit wiser for the next time you're dealing with a government agency.

I think the point being overlooked here Gary is that schools, teachers, and the administration staff are public SERVANTS. It is not their job to dictate idiotic rules, but rather to provide an appropriate education for the children in their charge, and while this might be a difficult fight to win, it is one that I absolutely would take on. In fact I would very likely remove my child from that school were I in Brib's situation.

It's all well and good to say, "Pick your fights", but the downside of that is that when bad decisions go unchallenged, they become acceptable, and when there's no push-back from the public, organizations such as this begin to feel that they can do whatever they want, regardless of whether or not there is any benefit to it.

If you're gonna fight, the appropriate arena for the fight is with the elected officials and elected officials will be more sensitive to the minds of the electorate.

The future for education is the computer. The tablet is the cheapest path to get a computer in the hands of all students. Brian, I can see fault in school's implementation of this policy. But if you are passionate about this issue than fight at the school board ... meanwhile don't make school tougher for your honor roll kid. So, follow the school's policy but fight it at the school board level.

@ tireiron- You would remove your child from a school that the child is doing well, (Honor Roll), a school where all his/her friends are at, a school that is most likely local and convenient because you unilaterally purchased an iPad for school not knowing or attempting to know the school's policy on said school purchase.

Having nearly a lifetime of experience with government and politics, my opinion is that you cannot fight every bad decision. You have to pick and choose ... the reason this policy didn't sit well with Brian is because he unilaterally purchased iPads, not knowing the schools policy. If he hadn't shelled out the bucks and instead accepted the $25 per month as being reasonable, (as possible most/the majority of the other parents), then we probably wouldn't be here. For me, there are more meaningful fights to jump into ... not a fight based upon a personal financial expense/loss. I do not see an issue of government exploitation and draconian policies aimed at the little guy here ... just a one-size fits all policy, of which, wasn't completely thought out well and it doesn't fit for those who did not conform to the schools established anti-electronic device policy. Granted, it is easier for the administrators to point to the policy and say No ... than to embrace Brian and say ... "Man ... you're right. Okay what can we do to resolve this problem? Hey ... I'll get our IT guys on the problem and have them implement an identical internet filter/censorship system/program on you kid's iPad so they can bring it to school. Just like all the other kids have."

I find it hard to believe that you would yank your kid out of school where they are doing well (Honor Roll), where all their friends are, which is most likely local/convenient to you because you unilaterally purchased an iPad without checking with the school on their policy on said action. Yes, the school's one-size fits all policy can be harsh, but pulling your kid out of school for the sole reasoning that they won't let you bring a private party, filtered/uncensored computer/iPad to school is wrong.

If you think you need to teach all those in government who are wrong a lesson ... God bless you man and good luck.

 

[bribrius]

Well what happens if they decided to go with MacBooks that are in the upper range of a grand and more.Force the parents to sign a contract for a $1500 computer that may become a paper weight after a kid drops it on the bus or it gets stolen out of his or her backpack.Screw that,I would fight that contract. It is the parents fight since the parents eat the cost of it. I have three kids in public schools and they bring home work home the old way,on paper. Some home work may require use of a computer on occasions but nothing a modern day local library can't handle the task. In my neck of the woods a lot family's are in hardship and have a hard enough time paying for school supplies,uniforms,field trips etc etc.

well if they get macbooks i guess your screwed. I can't figure why they don't have accidental insurance on them. But maybe they do for just 1 instance. Why the first time is ony 50 dollars. Next is replacement cost. The one my kid broke just had a cracked screen so had to pay the 50. The next one is replacement cost. $589. Why i just bought them one instead.

 

[TreeofLifeStairs]

The iPads they use at schools near us are locked in their functionality so that the students don't just watch YouTube all day in class. So I can understand why they don't want her using the one you bought, but I see your point and would have a hard time with the situation as well.

 

[tirediron]

...If you think you need to teach all those in government who are wrong a lesson ... God bless you man and good luck.

That's Mr. Quixote to you, sir!

 

[bribrius]

The iPads they use at schools near us are locked in their functionality so that the students don't just watch YouTube all day in class. So I can understand why they don't want her using the one you bought, but I see your point and would have a hard time with the situation as well.

yeah. i just dont like contracts. And if i am going to pay out that kind of money i want her to own the thing and not have a "used one that she gets to use that isn't hers and needs to return". 589 dollars to pay is a lot of money for something that isn't even hers she has to return. If i paid the replacement cost and she could keep it and everything and got a brand new one that would be different. So knowing i wouldn't want that kind of deal i bought her one. So she could keep it, cost less than if she breaks the school one, it is better, and i figured she can use it for school work too and just keep it.
Didn't even think about school policy.
But i try to see their side too, school policy to prevent kids breaking them, parents letting kids break them, kids abusing electronics in school etc. etc. etc.

 

[Dave442]

How does this compare to other similar contracts like for a cell phone. I have had a couple cell phones stolen and replaced under the contract, but a few years between thefts so I don't know if I would have had to pay the phone cost if a couple were broken or stolen within a year.

So does the contract renew each year so your kid can bust the iPad once each year for $50? Might be a badge of honor for your kid, "hey, I don't have an iPad cause I've already broken two this year".

I fully expect the school is working on Apps that you will have to use. Then when your kid goes to do the homework the App tells them they don't have enough gold, but they can buy some to continue now or wait an hour.

The iPads probably also have tracking enabled, so the school knows where the iPad (and your kid) is all the time even though you don't.

 

[pgriz]

My nephews use school-supplied iPads which have secure access to school web pages, lockout of non-school internet stuff, apps for parental review and communication, and means for the tracking the devices (supposedly only school security can see these tracks). So although your iPad and theirs may look the same and even be the same model, they are probably configured very differently. Basically confirming what Dave (above) and others have noted.

 

[bribrius]

How does this compare to other similar contracts like for a cell phone. I have had a couple cell phones stolen and replaced under the contract, but a few years between thefts so I don't know if I would have had to pay the phone cost if a couple were broken or stolen within a year.

So does the contract renew each year so your kid can bust the iPad once each year for $50? Might be a badge of honor for your kid, "hey, I don't have an iPad cause I've already broken two this year".

I fully expect the school is working on Apps that you will have to use. Then when your kid goes to do the homework the App tells them they don't have enough gold, but they can buy some to continue now or wait an hour.

The iPads probably also have tracking enabled, so the school knows where the iPad (and your kid) is all the time even though you don't.

yes. Every school year they have to return them to the school. Then get reissued another one when the school year starts up again. No different than when the schools used textbooks. Except they dont have textbooks anymore they have ipads instead.

 

[Gary A.]

I understand and can empathize with your desire to own as opposed to rent. And I understand your frustration with the school saying nyet. But for you to better understand the school ... it is much much easier for the school to say this is how it is, this is our policy - period.

1) All the students have the same equipment with the same programs and filters. Having the same equipment makes a level playing field ... similar to school uniforms and minimizes distractions;
2) If they allow your argument for private party purchase, it just opens another door under a similar argument ... if the school bows and allows private purchase of equipment ... I can see parents saying "Hell, you're not going tell me how I should spend MY money. Now parents are buying Androids and this and that, and now the schools have to come up with different filters and different platform aps. I becomes a slippery slope mess.
3) I took a beginning photo class with Mary Lou, the teacher wasted at least half the class time trying to address Canon, Nikon, Pentax menus ... then there was a person with film and Mary Lou with Fuji ... it was a mess. One system and one level class is so so unbelievably better ... school uniform time.

 

[Derrel]

You are being penny-wise and pound foolish. A $25 a school year iPad rental is dirt-cheap. It might even help a kid learn how to take care of electronics and treat them properly. No outside electronics in schools is a very common new regulation at schools, and has been for several years now. Since you're so good and so prolific at giving smug advice, I'll just say this: figure it out, Dad. Take a bit of responsibility to LEARN what your kid's schooling involves, and stop acting as if the issue is the school's doing. You made you own bed, now fix the problem, so your kid doesn't suffer for your foolishness and lack of involvement. Stop being such a cheapskate. $25 a year rental for a device that costs what, eight times that much? You bought electronics that were unneeded, and you're rationalizing a bad, dumb purchasing decision that you made when you decided to pay your own money for school electronics. Fix the issue. Stop passing the buck. YOU screwed this up. YOU, not the school. So...make it right, and spare us the whining. This is the **exact** tenor,type, and kind of advice you love to dish out here on TPF almost weekly, so...some of your own kind of advice right back at you.

If you need to know "why" outside electronics are banned, do five seconds' worth of research.

 

[limr]

^^^This.

Didn't even think about school policy.
But i try to see their side too, school policy to prevent kids breaking them, parents letting kids break them, kids abusing electronics in school etc. etc. etc.

Exactly. Perhaps you should have. They probably do have proprietary software and if you approached them ahead of time, they could have told you if it was possible to put that software on a student's own tablet.

The contract might have flaws and it could be better for sure, but yes, I do think you were wrong for just barreling ahead and buying the iPad without even considering that it might cause problems for your daughter.

 

[snowbear]

Heck, my parents probably spent that for the (first generation) electronic calculator they got me in high school.

 

[tirediron]

Okay, for some reason I mis-read Brib's OP and understood the cost to be $25/month. $25 a year is somewhat more palatable, but regardless, this is NOT a need. It might be cool, it might be more convenient, but it is most certainly not a need. If this is meant to replace textbooks (How sad is that???) then it should be treated in the same manner as text-book, and I certainly don't remember my parents EVER having to pay for me to have text books in elementary, junior high, or high school.

 

[Derrel]

Generally speaking Schools look to earn money where they can and they likely earn from this setup. Thus they don't want to encourage parents to buy their own iPads for their kids because suddenly the school loses out on the income they get.

I think you are talking out of your....HAT on this one....

The cheapest iPad 4 price I can find is $299.95. A typical American primary school in many districts has 34 students per class. That is $10,200 per year for one single classroom of iPad 4 units at 34 x $300. The ANNUAL rental fee is $25 for an iPad 4--a BARGAIN for nine months of use!

The kids are getting the use of a $300 tablet (at base-model price!) that costs 12 times the yearly rental fee.I really do not see much money being earned by the school on this affordable an arrangement.

As far as kids using those new-fangled computer-type devices in school today...by crikey, it's smacks of modernism, and 21st century progress...in MY DAY we had slates and chalk!!! This is almost as bad as the transition from whale oil lamps to that infernal 'legtriciddy stuff.

 

[tirediron]

Generally speaking Schools look to earn money where they can and they likely earn from this setup. Thus they don't want to encourage parents to buy their own iPads for their kids because suddenly the school loses out on the income they get.

I think you are talking out of your....HAT on this one....

The cheapest iPad 4 price I can find is $299.95. A typical American primary school in many districts has 34 students per class. That is $10,200 per year for one single classroom of iPad 4 units at 34 x $300. The ANNUAL rental fee is $25 for an iPad 4--a BARGAIN for nine months of use!

The kids are getting the use of a $300 tablet (at base-model price!) that costs 12 times the yearly rental fee.I really do not see much money being earned by the school on this affordable an arrangement.

As far as kids using those new-fangled computer-type devices in school today...by crikey, it's smacks of modernism, and 21st century progress...in MY DAY we had slates and chalk!!! This is almost as bad as the transition from whale oil lamps to that infernal 'legtriciddy stuff.

Yes, but the school district, IF they pay for them at all does not pay retail.