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Alright, I wasn’t sure if you were or not.

But, I still contend with young eyes and young minds, that the “old fashioned” way is better. It allows their nervous system to mature. It allows them to NOT become addicted to “easy and fun” only. The kids that can’t do basic math were given calculators way too young. The kids couldn’t be bothered to learn those facts because they didn’t HAVE to.

I am sure you are thrilled with all the kids are doing.

I kept my daughter from calculators, and only one 30 minute show (with NO 3sec scenes intervals) when she was young. It helped her to develop an attention span that so many kids today lack.

I would have to agree with TruthConquers on this one. I to have used the alternative to “unionized teachers” and home school my children. Build the firm foundation and the children can learn for the rest of their lives...not just at school.

I understand the idea of the iPad being a “WONDERFUL tool to add to a teacher’s arsenal for learning”, but we also have to ask the question of what tools to remove from the arsenal. The school district that I live in spends on average $11,300 per student per year...and yet as a person that highers some of these people it is amazing how many cannot do simple math. We will not solve the problems in our education system by throwing more money or gadgets at it.

I also am confused by your posts in this thread (pillut48) when I try to follow them. I believe it is in the first post you talk about how your grandson is using the iPad to teach himself but then in later posts insist that the teacher is still needed and then in later posts (post 50) you lament that others “would rather rely on unionized teachers,:-(” If the two year old is able to use the iPad to teach himself then shouldn't the parent be able to use the iPad to teach their own children so we would not even need public schools? This would solve the issue of to much money being spent on admin, unionized teachers, etc.

We are spending to much on education with out any real return for the investment...but we were warned of this all the way back in 1897..."when society once recognizes the possibilities in this direction, and the obligations which these possibilities impose, it is impossible to conceive of the resources of time, attention, and MONEY which will be put at the disposal of the educator." "Pedagogic Creed" by John Dewey 1897 as republished in "Education Today" in 1940.

John Dewey...the father of the modern public school system...and signer of the "Humanist Manifesto" 1933, could see where his plan would eventually lead. We will just keep putting more money and "stuff" into education when what is really needed is parents to be responsible for their own children.