Goal is to get laptops to school kidsBy Diette Courrégé (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Thousands of South Carolina children have limited access to computers, but education officials hope to change that through a statewide campaign launched Monday. The goal of the One Laptop per Child/South Carolina initiative is to put laptop computers in the hands of elementary-age students statewide. Organizers kicked off the effort Monday with an announcement in rural Marion District 7 where nearly 500 elementary school students in two schools will receive laptop computers. More infoTo learn more about One Laptop per Child/South Carolina, go to onelaptopsc.org. The $100,000 pilot program was paid for with private funding and is a partnership between the South Carolina Department of Education and the nonprofit Palmetto Project. The goal is to expand the program to every school district in South Carolina. The laptop computers were developed by One Laptop per Child, a nonprofit organization dedicated to designing, manufacturing and distributing inexpensive laptop computers to children across the globe. Charleston entrepreneur Phil Noble worked with One Laptop per Child founder Nicholas Negroponte to bring the program to South Carolina, and other places, such as Birmingham, Ala., and New York City, are trying to start a program similar to the one here. Officials characterized the laptop computers as "virtually indestructible." They are spill-proof, drop-proof, brightly colored and equipped with a child-size keyboard, Internet capabilities and a camera. The cost of each computer is less than $180. State Education Superintendent Jim Rex hasn't decided to which children the computers will go, and Rex said he needs to get funding for the technology. His initial focus will be the state's most challenged schools that have a high concentration of poverty, such as feeder schools for those involved in the Palmetto Priority Schools Project. Rex created the Palmetto Priority Schools Project to help 16 of the state's most troubled schools, and four of those — Brentwood Middle, Burke High, North Charleston High and Stall High — are in Charleston County. "In many ways, this is an attempt to start leveling the playing field for children who are not as likely to have access to technology," Rex said. The Palmetto Project plans to have an ongoing evaluation of the program. Reach Diette Courrégé at 937-5546 or dcourrege@post andcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 10 comment(s)
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 13, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Negroponte’s program is highly successful in areas where children have a great desire to learn. Ensuring that every child has a laptop would be great; success of the program, however, will occur only when computer issuance is coupled with proper usage […and that is: for educational purposes].
Posted by zoomru on May 13, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Instead of buying new books every so often..use that money to fund a one time laptop issuance. From then on...it is up to the PARENTS!!!! It is the students responsibility to take care of it. Furthermore ...close all these LIBRARIES except one central County Library and use that moey to build out a OPEN WI-MAX school internet Connectivity!!! The INTERNET IS NOW THE LIBRARY!!! At least Barns and Noble sells Coffee!!
Posted by zoomru on May 13, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Make the Central Library thes SAME location where all the COUNTY RECORDs are kept too!!
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 13, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, alrighty then...
Posted by zoomru on May 13, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sitting Bull... can you believe this comment...
"In many ways, this is an attempt to start leveling the playing field for children who are not as likely to have access to technology," Rex said.
The Palmetto Project plans to have an ongoing evaluation of the program. "
WHAT!!!
REX!! old boy?. this should have been started statewide years ago!! Get out from behind your desk and get in front of some of these CEO's of this fine state for SPONSORSHIP!!! Take a TV crew with you to report on your SUCCESS?! Get some backbone!!...THIS IS NO PROJECT!!! This is OUR state's FUTURE!!! Are you afraid someone is going to SLAM the DOOR?? Are you a MAN??? Get some GUTS!!!!
Chief.... YOU are now GOVENOR of this fine STATE! You go MAN!!
Posted by suec on May 13, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Am I the only one who has not a clue what zoom is saying?
It sure has him all excited!!!...!!!...!!!
Posted by zoomru on May 13, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Suec...
By Sitting bulls comment... I thought he was thinking so I let it rip!!
Posted by zoomru on May 13, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Diette!!! I may throw darts ...but I provide solutions too! Diette..you need to print out this Rex guy's mug shot
and take it around to all the principles and school board members. If they don't know who he is ....REPORT them!
Give them his telephone number to call him for a CHAT!! If they DO know him...ask them to call also and let him
know that we already have school projects ...WE want IMPLEMENTATION!!!
Your first MISSION!! DIETTE!
Tell your Editor that you ARE going to Columbia to meet this Guy FACE to FACE!! WIth THESE QUESTIONS!!
AND NO SMILING!!!!
1) MR. "REX" Are you a LEADER?
2) MR "REX" What are you doing to rein in COUNTY SCHOOL YAHOOS! and enable FISCAL resposibility!?
3) MR "REX" WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOLS?
4) MR "REX" Do you consider YOURSELF on the LEADING EDGE OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY or the TRAILING EDGE!?
5) Mr "REX What are you "PERSONALLY" doing to ensure all future schools are build near MASS TRANSIT HUBS? Are you efficiently planning?
6) MR. "REX" How mant days a MONTH are you at DOT? How are you working with this state agency to ensure cost effective transportation?
7) MR "REX" HOW MANY EBOOKS DO YOU READ a DAY?.. A WEEK.. A YEAR??
8) MR. REX WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU PERSONALLY WROTE A LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE, THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN ALL NEWSPAPERS,
IFORMING PARENTS OF YOUR THOUGHTS,CHALLENGES,NEEDS, SCHOOL SYSYTEM STATUS, SUCCESSES, FAILURES, and above all PARENTAL HELP...BOTH AT SCHOOL
and HELP WITH PUBLIC SENTIMENT TO SWAY CHANGE ON... SCHOOL VOUCHERS!.. IN THE STATEHOUSE!!!
9) Mr. REX How many days a month do you meet with DHEC about school system waste management?
10) MR REX How many days a month do you meet with DOT, DHEC and County Reps in using OUR schools waste to power the NEW HYDROGEN BUSES being
used in FLORIDA since we know you are looking to SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY WHENEVER POSSIBLE!!
11) MR. REX Have you ever been to the website www.startech.net ?
12) MR REX Do you know that this STATE cannot hear you!!! What is your solution?
Posted by katrenavantassle on May 13, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder who is going to pay for the work to be performed on these laptops when the kids corrupt the files with garbage...which will happen and get viruses. I think elementary school is too early for laptops. Give them to middle schoolers who can appreciate them. START AT OAKBROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL.
Posted by RTC on May 13, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would love to have a laptop myself, but there are other things that are higher on my list of priorities.
I hope these kids understand how fortunate they are and be respectful of this valuable equipment.