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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think the schools relying on computers and the net is a bit off?

68 replies

whiskeylover · 24/09/2011 12:04

ds has just started secondary school. the school relys alot on kids accessing online resources, for looking up work, to being able to access certain work pages etc. at the moment he has a piece of homework that he has been told he has to access online. the teacher has told him that they do not give print outs. issue being at the monent the only comp we have in the house is broken, and we cant afford to get it fixed til next weekend. so he tried to use the comps at school. they are all booked up for the next school week, so he cant access it. the item needs to be downloaded so im not willing to ask a neighbour if he can use their comp to download things as i think it would take the piss. i have informed the school that until he can get secure net access he cant to the work. they have said he will be given a detention if they dont do the work.
i know that computers and a big part of life these days but there must be families that cant afford comp and net access, what happens to those kids?
are schools being U by relying on children having comstant web access?

OP posts:

TotemPole · 24/09/2011 17:42

If the school can afford the ipads, I don't see the problem. If it was at the expense of staff then the general level of education would have suffered and they'd be unlikely to get the outstanding reports from ofsted.

Maybe they raise more funds than other schools.

GrannysLittlePickle · 24/09/2011 17:48

Are you sure you have the whole story? I have 10 pcs in my form room, and told my tutor group they could use them before/after school or lunchtime/break if they let me know. I still had 3 tutees try the "no computer" excuse with other teachers and their parents....

... there WILL be other school computers they can use....

Voidka · 24/09/2011 17:48

But its not realistic to think that other schools will be able to just dish out things like Ipads.

SoupDragon · 24/09/2011 17:49

No, I don't see the problem either. I just don't think it is using the per child budget "appropriately" and the insinuation that the school which provides them is in some way superior to those who do not.
I am in no way jealous. I have an iPad and I would not want my child provided with one at the expense of other things in the budget.

Alouiseg · 24/09/2011 17:51

I'm sure there are Lsa's but I've never come across any. We're certainly not understaffed. Tutor groups are kept at below 24. It was Outstanding before they were given the use of ipads.

There is no problem, they can afford it, they also send lots of staff to do the advanced "super teacher" training. It's the most impressive school I've ever seen. My children were at a private primary which was diabolical compared to this comprehensive.

Minus273 · 24/09/2011 18:29

YANBU, if they want something done online then they cannot give detention if they do not also make provisions for those without acess. Can't have it both ways.

I still remember the embarassment of being set homework that involved watching a video and having to ask to doit in school because ww didn't have one.

I agree to an extent that computers and the internet have become essential parts of modern life. However so are a roof over your head, heat and food yet there are people on Britain today either without or wondering how they are going to pay for it. Some of these people will not have computers or internet access. As soneone else said computers in libraries tend to get booked up.

Obviously it is important for schools to encourage IT skills but they must ensure that those without the facilities at home have access in school.

NinkyNonker · 24/09/2011 18:40

Yanbu, the school has to ensure computer access if required for homework.
I used to teach in an outstanding school, and trust me....no spare funds for ipads, pmsl. You'd be lucky to find folders by term 2. They weren't bad at budgetting either, otherwise do you genuinely think your school is the only one to have thought of it/be able to balance the books Alouise?!

TotemPole · 24/09/2011 18:45

Alouise, does the school compromise in any other areas at all?

Alouiseg · 24/09/2011 19:13

Not that I can see. I am a fairly harsh critic of schools and I have been bowled over by this one.

I never thought that I'd be gushy about a school, I hated my (comprehensive) school. I was very unimpressed by the dc's previous school.

This school has opened my eyes to what a good, well run school really is.

It's in a rural area, the school manages to cater for all it's pupils. I havn't heard anything bad from any other parents and my kids are in year 10 and year 9.

I wish all children could access a school like this.

FabbyChic · 24/09/2011 19:14

Go to the library?

Some schools do a scheme whereby you buy a laptop off of them for £99. Most schools now assume that all school aged children have their own computer, and to be honest they should.

It is technology it is the way of the world.

You are posting what are you using to post why can't he use that?

FabbyChic · 24/09/2011 19:15

OMG downloading a doc does not cost excessive amounts of money.

Original poster

whiskeylover · 24/09/2011 19:21

Fabby, i already answered that.

OP posts:

Minus273 · 24/09/2011 19:49

£99 is a lot of money to some people.

FabbyChic · 24/09/2011 19:52

You can buy second hand laptops on eBay for £65.

Im sorry but all secondary school children should have their own computer, call it part of the uniform. They use computers at school, they use computers at work, this is the technological age.

adelaofblois · 24/09/2011 19:54

The issue as always been the same-remember how much easier my life at school was because I had a well stocked library at home and one to walk to. Poor sods trying to write 'Great War' homework from the two books in the school library totally screwed. But they should provide alternatives. Are sending out letters only by e-mail? If not seems they recognise the problem but aren't doing anything when pupils' learning is at stake.

But a computer for every child school isn't a long way off, iPads or not. Cheap cloudbooks cost less than 100 pounds a pop, and many schools are already wireless....

alemci · 24/09/2011 20:45

we all share a computer. I would worry about buying a lap top off ebay but I am sure if you are lucky you can get one which works okay.

AnaisB · 24/09/2011 20:54

No problem with homework requiring computer use, but it is unreasonable of the teacher to set homework needing a computer when they are no readily available computers at school.

ReadRideABikeSwim · 24/09/2011 20:57

whiskey - we dont use computers for the dcs homeowrk - they get prinouts - if you ask they will do them for you

I do not think you are being one bit unreasonable - computers not strictly necessary at all

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