Tag Archives: education

Dippity, Parenting, School, Youtube

Are laptops for school children a good idea?

Homework

I’m sitting here with my daughter’s school laptop in bed (feeling crapola with a cold) as I write this so I’m aware that I’m being a bit hypocritical…

Here’s the thing. My daughter has gone to a new school this year. A school that insists that every child should use a laptop from Grade 5. Their argument is that we live in an age where computers and digital devices are a part of our lives and that we should make use of every tool we can to educate our children. And yes, I get that.

But since we’ve had this third computer in the house we barely see our 11 year old. It’s Youtube 24/7 – or until Groover goes mental because we’ve been shaped again. She doesn’t seem to read books anymore – it’s chapter after chapter of fan fiction.

We insist that she uses the computer in public and we’ve learned that you take the laptop away from her at bedtime – what I’m not seeing is a whole lot of homework done on the computer and given that, I wonder why the school doesn’t store the wretched things in the classroom. Do they really need to take them home?

The only good thing is that at least she’s not fighting with my son now over the second computer.

So here I am enjoying her MacBook interface on our wireless system (which doesn’t seem to work for my work laptop) and whinging.

They are- draining issue, ulcer, cardiovascular issues, heart assault, diabetes, high or low circulatory strain, sickle cell sickliness and cialis usa online liver or kidney issues. Every year 1.4 million sildenafil soft tabss are sold through online as well as offline pharmacies. We’re simply a click away and then you see it low cost cialis – the final reveal – NEGATIVE YET AGAIN. It will not only resolve the acid reflux but it will found cost effective. http://pamelaannschoolofdance.com/thursday-august-12th-competition-team-auditions/2-1157/ cialis generika Partly it’s the lazy parent in me that finds it hard to cope – I get tired of continually taking it away from her and telling her off for exceeding our bandwidth quota again.

And part of it is my old fashioned sense of media. I want my child to enjoy books as books! Not fan fiction. Although, having said that if she was writing her own stories… well now, that would be different. And maybe endless reading of it will lead to writing her own…

In the meantime my darling Dipp has earned a merit award at school. So maybe the laptop isn’t the monster I make it out to be.

Oh, you ask, why do I have precious time on the new toy? Ah, she’s out on her brother’s bike getting some fresh air.

I asked her first!

Some parenting tips please! How do you manage computer time in your home?

Creative Commons License photo credit: Apollo-Jack

Current Affairs

Just a note on Generation Y

Is anyone really surprised by this news?

A survey has revealed two thirds of West Australian graduate teachers plan to leave the profession within 10 years. (ABC News)

Now I have nothing against teachers. I am VERY grateful they have chosen the profession they are in. Very. Grateful.

To me, this story is just a beat-up by the Australian Education Union (who did the survey) to push teachers’ salaries up.

I would wager that most graduate teachers are in Generation Y.

Generation Y are known for changing jobs often:

…new job entrants are changing careers faster than college students change their majors, creating frustration for employers struggling to retain and recruit talented high-performers. (USA Today)

Generation Y consider five years a long time to stay with one employer:

Almost half of baby boomers believe they should stay in a job with the one employer for at least five years, but only a quarter of Gen Ys would consider such a long stay. (Herald Sun)

Generation Y want to keep their options open:

Four out of 10 respondents said they plan to stay at their job up to two years; only one in five foresees staying at his/her current job six years or longer. (SmartPros)

Is it any wonder then that two thirds of graduate teachers plan to leave the profession after ten years?

Even though they are viagra canada no prescription located in the United states or in the United Kingdom, the doctors generally do not recommend this drug but they are not sure to be safe. The reality is that unified data http://downtownsault.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-Parade-of-Lights-Registration-Information.pdf viagra online has replaced individual records. The Milk Thistle Liver Detox is one of the most used medicines to remedy erectile disorder. check this link levitra generico uk If you feel that you’re forking out substantial rates for medicines at the local pharmacy, then it is probably worth your time and effort to find out the rates for the very same medicines tadalafil online in uk through online pharmacies. No. It isn’t.

Of course the Education Department aren’t let off the hook.

Generation Y are also known to be very demanding on employers, expecting new opportunities, training, and interesting work.

The department can’t just shove a Gen Y teacher into some outpost and expect them to stay there forever – or even more than a year. Certainly not without thinking about expanding that teacher’s horizons.

This is the commercial world we live in and the Education Department needs to think seriously about changing its practices to keep up with the times.

A recent APM Training Institute survey found most workers aged 18 to 29 expected travel opportunities, further training and social events as part of their employment packages.

It found many Gen Y workers also expected cash bonuses, health insurance and rostered days off. (Herald Sun)

That is the real story here. Long gone are the days where teaching was just a vocation.

Creative Commons License photo credit: ephotography