(Chelsea Update would like to thank Mike Kapolka for the information in this story.)
Many of us will remember what it was like when our high schools offered electric typewriters rather than manual ones for typing class.
Well, the times they have definitely changed. The Chelsea School District purchased iPads for all high school students and teachers this year.
And, the iPad roll-out meetings for students and parents took place on Aug. 21-22.
Chelsea High School Principal Mike Kapolka said via email, “The attendance of our parents and students over the past two days at these meetings was fantastic, considering it is fair week and athletic practices and scrimmages are well under way. “
He said high school staff has been able to “push out approximately 72 percent of all iPads over the first two days to our students so that they will be able to come into the building on their first day back on Sept. 3 ready to use them.”
If your high school student has not gotten an iPad, there is a make-up session scheduled for Tuesday Aug. 27 at 4 p.m.
Wow! I thought those IBM Selectrics were so cool! Of course PCs and the Internet were well in the future at that time.
I not only remember the excitement of having a turn at using one of my high school’s few “new” electric typewriters, I also remember taking the forward-thinking elective, “Computer Math.” We learned basic programming, took turns using the key punch machine, and then our teacher took all those cards to the local university to run them through the computers, which he described as being massive. We thought we were “all that.” What a difference 30 years has made.
Call me a fuddy duddy, but I am not fully behind giving kids yet more electronic gadgets and gizmos. This isn’t like back when students used manual or electric typewriters or basic PCs; those stayed at school in labs. These iPads went home with the students. I’ve already seen kids goofing around with them at the library and other places downtown. I am sure there are plenty of CHS students who will use their iPads appropriately, but for many it’s just more screen time, more time plugged in and sedentary, more video games and online pursuits instead of actual, non-electronic quality time with friends and family. I understand the need for technology in order to thrive and survive in this day and age, but I’d have preferred that the iPads stay at school, where they can be used for school, vs. the iPads coming home to add to the screen-zombie population.