In 2027, I will be a Year 10 student at McKinnon Secondary College and it is crucial for my classmates and me to have greater flexibility with the technology provided by our school. Many young people rely on these laptops not just for schoolwork, but to build time management skills, stay organized and prepare for higher education and future careers in a digital world.  Currently, strict account limitations hinder our ability to manage our academic and personal lives effectively. Restricting access to native organizational tools like the Calendar app, as well as restricting sign-ins exclusively to @mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au accounts, leaves us unable to connect personal iCloud or Google accounts. While we recognize that these are school managed devices, treating them purely as locked down terminals prevents us from developing modern digital organization skills. As well as this our parents are paying hundres of dollars for something that we can barely use, this isn't okay.

Other schools across Victoria encourage responsible digital autonomy, allowing students to balance school and personal responsibilities on their laptops. Overly restrictive account controls place McKinnon students at a distinct disadvantage compared to our peers, who learn to manage their schedules and personal workflows early on.

We urge McKinnon Secondary College to reconsider its current device restriction policies. Specifically, we ask the school to enable dual profile or secondary personal account access such as allowing personal iCloud or secondary accounts for sync, personal calendars and off campus use while maintaining safety protocols on the school network. Implementing guided digital literacy programs rather than blanket account blocks will empower students to become responsible, tech savvy and ready to navigate the workforce with confidence.

 Join our cause by signing this petition to request a more modern, flexible approach to student technology at McKinnon Secondary College!