Good or Bad? Laptops for Students

I have been reading a lot lately about how so many high schools, and even middle schools, have been getting laptop computers for all their students. On the one hand I think its a good idea to give all the students a hands on introduction to computers, show them how they work, introduce them to different software packages they will need to know how to use in the future. If you think about it, having computer skills is essential in today's job market.



On the other hand, it seems like an enormous waste of tax dollars to be buying each and every student a computer that they can use for school/fun/whatever. Wouldn't it be just as effective to make sure that all our schools have computer labs that can be used by all the students? It would be a heck of a lot cheaper, and you're also keepin the computers in school control where they can be monitored to make sure they're not being used for purposes they shouldn't be (ie; games, porn, chatting w/ friends, etc).

If a student really NEEDS to have a computer or a laptop at home, shouldn't the family be supplying it for the child? I think so. What do YOU think?

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