Michigan Budget Deficit Solution: iPods for Every Student to Be Used as a Learning Tool

"Facing a $1 billion budget deficit, Michigan state House Democrats have proposed the natural addition to such a weighted spending plan: free iPods for every kid. Ostensibly for educational purposes, the $38 million plan would provide iPods or MP3 players to every student in Michigan to use as a learning tool. We've seen laptops -- which Michigan (and Virginia) handed out to its students a few year back -- and even PSPs be put to such educational use, but iPods are a bit of a new one on us. Pearson Education does have that curriculum for the iPod, and bought Apple's PowerSchool a little while back, but this would undoubtedly be the largest rollout of such curriculum to date. That said, we're all for the insanity, 'cause just like our iPod always told us: "We don't need no education... Teachers leave those kids alone." And if the iPod says it, it must be true!"

Where do I start here? Schools have already had problems with giving out computers. The kids install video games and play them during class. One kid even sued after his computer was taken back for this reason. The PSP? To be honest I cant see any reason to give them out. Even if there are games that can be educational it is easy to get Mortal Kombat instead of what you are supposed to be doing. The IPOD is a music device. Guess what it will be used for.

What ever happened to teachers teaching. It seems to me that teachers are trying to acquire the same babysitting tools that parents use. Not exempting myself there. Sometimes it's just easier to plug the kids into something because there are things that require your attention around the house. One shouldn't rely on such things because home is where you make contact with your kids but sometimes you just need to keep them distracted. Teachers do not have this excuse. They don't need to clean up or fix things because the school pays someone else to do this. They are there to teach. If the computer, videogames, and other trendy gadgets are all I need to teach then I will be happy to buy them and keep my school taxes.

Funny how Libs want to attack and extort companies like McDonalds for making kids fat but promote the devices that robs kids of their motivation to go out and play active games and sports.

I think it's more about keeping kids more self absorbed. The latest generation of working age adults are coming out addicted to gadgets with attitude that they need to be accomidated for all their needs. That life should be automated accommodate. That they are entitled to the jobs they desire and do not need to work there way up to these jobs. When they can't get these jobs they tend to blame those who won't give them these jobs and not except that they have not paid their dues. This new batch of people are all about pushing, a button or taking a pill, or suing to get what they want faster then having to work for it.

That's not the end of it. Their gadget addiction also puts them on an endless loop of debt. They cannot live without the latest version of whatever their gadget is. Every time a new Ipod comes out they need to get it even if the one they have is adequate for their needs. Their computer is never adequate. The industry promotes this they are continuously upgrading. Before a product is even on the market, it's company is working on the next thing that will make it obsolete. These people will be more dependent on the Dems to bail them out of debt(or at least the responsibility of paying it.

Parents can't always keep up with this stuff but one reason is that we pay for everyday life after we are done paying taxes. This technology does not teach people it keeps them distracted. I'm not paying schools to distract my kids I'm paying them to prepare my kids.