Schools EXPECT kids to own a computer and access the internet.

Blackpool_Saver

All homes should be supplied with free internet access in this day and age.

Parents who lack the knowledge to block/restrict sites should be shown how.

mountainofdebt

Abit of a double edge sword this one.....

My son has just started A level maths and for this and GSCE he had to submit homework on line and when I first come across it, I thought it makes life alot easier for the teachers,lol, especiallly as its marked straight away!

However he recently spent a fortnight away from school and as a result the teacher was able to give him some exercises / homework to do whilst he was away, which meant he wasn't too far behind his classmates.

However the advantage for me is that I can check up on his marks - so I don't get the carp about him understanding it and getting good marks!

before_hollywood

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

All homes should be supplied with free internet access in this day and age.

Parents who lack the knowledge to block/restrict sites should be shown how.

who should pay though?

Mutter_2

Idiophreak wrote: »

Who said anything about "on their own"? Presumably the child has someone supervising them, so they could go with them, if they're worried about the child's safety. Of course, we know why that wouldn't work... "Sally does ballet class" and "I sit for the kid next door" and "my car only works between 7 and 9am" and "the courts say I'm not allowed within 200 yards of a book" and yada yada yada.

This topic fascinates me...it's one that people are determined to find reasons to complain about. No matter what alternatives you provide people with, they'll come up with some reason they can't do it, how unfair it is etc etc etc.

You are going to love my excuses then Ideophreak.
In 2000 when my Girl started at secondary education she was expected to research, not submit homework via the net.
We were living in a caravan whilst building our house but did have a family computer in it mainly for me scourcing building materials etc.

She was at an Independent school 24 miles away. A journey by car, then train, then school pick up by bus to class.
She also had photo-sensitive Epilepsy, and in those days computer screens flickered, we wouldn't see it, but to her it triggered a fit.
The IT room was available at school, but of course she couldn't even enter it.
After boarding a train at 7.30 am, she'd arrive back at the station at 5.30 pm, unless the train was cancelled . Many's the time I drove to fetch her.

Should I have taken her to the Library to research through books when she'd already had a 10 hour day? Yes sometimes we'd have to, after sandwiches in the car. If she had a project to complete, she would otherwise have been in a panic as to what would happen at school the next morning.
At that age she had no activities after school.

I frankly used to resent the fact that us parents were expected to own a computer. What independent schools miss sometimes is we are not all wealthy, but make sacrifices to send our children to a good school not for academic reasons always, but an all round Education.
We've never had Sky, xbox whatever thingys, none of those luxuries.


So, you see there are exceptions.
She still succeeded, and is very happy in her chosen career.
Thankyou for asking.

Blackpool_Saver

Of course anyone made ill by using a computer should not use one, but the excuse of i can't afford one or internet access doesn't really wash today as they are cheap and so is the internet access, it is a matter of priorities and in this day and age children's learning to use a computer for something other than playing is essential.

Blackpool_Saver

before_hollywood wrote: »

who should pay though?

I think it should be provided to homes and be part of council tax for example on a means tested paying basis.

OOH blimey they will all come out of the woodwork now...lol.....lol

hoyles10

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

I think it should be provided to homes and be part of council tax for example on a means tested paying basis.

OOH blimey they will all come out of the woodwork now...lol.....lol

But then the council will find a way of digging up cyberspace towards the end of the financial year, leading to a build up of internet traffic for months whilst they complete the work

ComplexP

I have just started a teacher training course and an interesting point made during our induction was that, if you think about it, the style of teaching has not really changed for 50 years or more. But think how much society has changed in that time? By setting homework on the internet perhaps schools are trying to update their teaching and keep it relevant. Also as computers are familiar to kids, is this not a good way of engaging them and getting them to do their homework?

before_hollywood

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

I think it should be provided to homes and be part of council tax for example on a means tested paying basis.

OOH blimey they will all come out of the woodwork now...lol.....lol

personally i disagree, i already have to share my house to get something towards our band a rates of £100 a month

all we get for that is a p*ss poor council and our bins emptied, the town only has a part time police station and no fire station of its own

my computer before this one cost £60, the battery for this one costs more (see sig)

before_hollywood

hoyles10 wrote: »

But then the council will find a way of digging up cyberspace towards the end of the financial year, leading to a build up of internet traffic for months whilst they complete the work

and of course every computer will cost the council £100 but the taxpayer will pay £3000