kevofaz25 Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 The Government is taking 270,000 applications from low-income families to supply free laptops and Free Broadband for 12 months to improve learning and skills. How about paying for it all like everyone else and not using the free laptop to access Bingo.com all day?? Seems fecklessness can be rewarded after all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 I wonder what's to stop them selling them? Most of them probably can't do the 3 r's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LymmParent Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 The scheme is to try and address the fact that some kids live in homes where their parents can't afford broadband or a PC. Whether that's because they are genuinely poor or no-hopers wasting their dole in the boozer doesn't really matter. The point is that kids who are already disadvantaged are now being left even further behind because most homes do have internet access for learning resources. Even in primary schools, teachers are putting homework online and providing out of hours help via email. Or we can forget it. Leave them to rot and then wonder why they end up on the dole, living in council-funded accom having babies at 15 or getting into trouble with the law..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 These kids have access to libraries (which are currently free to use); the fact they don't take advantage of this fact, is an indicator of the total absence of a culture of learning within such families - so giving free lap tops to them, is just like giving free lap tops to some Amazonian Indians - a total waste of time and money. As I've suggested on other threads, albeit tongue in cheek, the only way to break this cycle of ignorance is to literally take the kids out of an enviroment that perpetuates ignorance into one of learning - IE Eton or Harrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 Will these families have a landline? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 Wireless? Just a thought, maybe it could start off some careers in the hacking buisiness?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 Reminds me of an issue close to my heart. I recently bought my daughter a wireless lap top to help her with her school work. I also pay for the broadband. A local businessman I deal with brings in his lads free lap top to use at work with a dongle, all supplied free by the school! How can it be right that one local businessman has to pay ofr his daughter's educational needs and another gets free use of his son's school lap top! The taxes I pay fund his free use! Now I know there are some families who can not afford lap tops and need Government assistance to help them with their education - but this youngster has been to Disneyland in Florida with his family more times than me and my family! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LymmParent Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 If the lad has certain conditions, like dyslexia or autism, then the laptop may be provided as part of his education plan because he can't manage to take notes in class, do homework etc without a keyboard. I don't know any other legit way to get a free laptop out of a school.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 With poverty, comes a poverty of ambition - unless you include the lottery or the X-FACTOR! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egbert Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 I remain to be convinced that the computer and internet access has any role to play in education. It has become too easy to access information on the web, which means kids don't LEARN anything other than how to find things on the web. The result is a sharp decline in general knowledge. But if the Government MUST give away computers to hard up families, they should not give laptops. They are more expensive, less reliable and more prone to damage. I wonder what the average life of a laptop is, particularly when used by a child? Six months? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 I remain to be convinced that the computer and internet access has any role to play in education. It has become too easy to access information on the web, which means kids don't LEARN anything other than how to find things on the web. The result is a sharp decline in general knowledge.But if the Government MUST give away computers to hard up families, they should not give laptops. They are more expensive, less reliable and more prone to damage. I wonder what the average life of a laptop is, particularly when used by a child? Six months? So when you access the internet you don't learn anything that you discover? What nonsense..... and as for laptops, yes a "proper PC (as opposed to a european MAC) is a better way, but why would a laptop not last a child? my lad has had his for 15 months now and he is only 8 and it still works fine.... mind you I had to pay for mine and as such he is more careful with it. I doubt very much that Dan the doleys kids will be as caring, particularly when they can probably get a replacement FOC as well as they are not likely to have contents insurance are they?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 They'll just use it for playing games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egbert Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 Baz. I congratulate you on the way you have brought up your lad if he has used his laptop for 15 months without damaging it. He is obviously one in a million. As to whether you learn much from the web, I can only speak from personal experience when I say that information definitely doesn't "sink in" for me as well from the web as it does from a reference book. I think there is also a tendency to think: "I can always look it up again" because it is so easy and quick (and cheap). I also believe standards of general knowledge have fallen since the computer age dawned and that there may be a connection. And, of course, in education, it has made it that much more easy to cheat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 I agree with you Egbert. You get general knowledge through reading books, magazines and newspapers. I think with computers/internet you tend to narrow down your terms of reference too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 I agree with you Egbert. You get general knowledge through reading books, magazines and newspapers. I think with computers/internet you tend to narrow down your terms of reference too much. Like the avatar Asp. Is that the one that you row? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 Yes that's my Sarnia Cherie, but I have slaves to do the rowing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 perhaps you could employ LP to do the whipping? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 Elf and safety don't allow the whipping these days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Well it didn't take the forum police long to delete my second post, and I thought scousers had a sense of humour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 .. only when they're laughing at someone else - not themselves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Careful Obs or you will join the list of Dis, trojan and myself (3 times ) to have their post deleted. GET OVER IT WOLFIE ! I can delete your posts - I can edit your posts and I can even ban you if I so choose. Surprisingly you and your Trojan friend and a couple of your other identities are the only ones I have any issues with! I wonder why? GARY - the guy who pays for this facility! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 I thought you weren't talking to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 I thought you weren't talking to me Only to explain the rules - like it or lump it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 I think deep down you actually like me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LymmParent Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 perhaps you could employ LP to do the whipping? Yuk. Another of your peculiar fantasies, Peter? The height of my voilent activities is to beat eggs in the kitchen.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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