1. Parents should not be burdened the cost of $550-$700 per child—an expensive..."school supply”.  This project invites singling out/isolating children who cannot afford it.  Although stated they can borrow the school’s iPads for the day, we believe it can create a social stigma when a child doesn't own one as evident on school bus rides, in the hallways, etc.  If the school wants to take on this project, the school should fund it or fundraise for it.

John Butler of the Southborough Town Advisory Committee says, "Think for a minute about the family of three whose youngest is in 4th grade, whose older children have been asking for one of these, whose parents feel they can’t afford one, and have been denying the older children. Are they supposed to buy three? Think about the parents of twins. Think about the child who doesn’t want to say “I can’t work on this at home because I don’t own the ipad I’m using here.” Think about the bus ride for that child. “Lets work on the project after school. Oh I forgot you don’t have an Ipad. Well, I’ll work with Sam then.”  

2.Logistics and imposing screen time.  Our children lose water bottles, lunch boxes and sweatshirts. They are too young to be responsible for an expensive piece of equipment in transit.  In additiion, by imposing the use of the iPads at home, the school is controlling the amount of technology our children are exposed to rather than us as parents, compromising our family values of limiting electronics. 

PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a vote against some sort of in-school iPad project to be funded by the school.  That is something we are open to exploring.   

For a complete dialogue on this subject visit: http://www.mysouthborough.com/2013/10/02/4th-grade-oneone-pilot-project-update-and-letter-to-the-editor/