8415 Benotho Place
Mercer Island, WA 98040
March 20, 2001
Dear Bernie —
We are writing to express our strong concern over the proposed mandatory laptop program, especially for next year’s seniors, and to recommend an alternative. We are sending this to you before the scheduled meeting so you will not be surprised by our concerns.
As you know, we have been strong supporters of Lakeside. We appreciate your leadership in advancing Lakeside, and making changes in a school so strongly steeped with tradition. We concur with you that our children should be educated in digital technology, and that technology can be a useful tool in education.
We support the goal that Lakeside achieve a leadership position in technology use and education. Several local private schools have fallen into the alluring "integrated laptop" trap. Lakeside is poised to make the same mistake. Your opportunity is to lead Lakeside with a far more effective "win-win" strategy.
Concerns with Mandatory Laptops
Mandatory laptops are an expensive proposition offering minimal benefits, and potentially strong negatives. Even if laptops were free, we share the concerns voiced about extensive use of laptops in classrooms. The success of any educational program depends upon the commitment of those who have to make it work.
We in the professional world have experimented with laptops in group settings. We found that laptops break the attention of the group and distract from vital human interaction. Instead, we’ve shifted to networking, using office-based computers and home computers interconnected with high-speed communications. In addition, laptops cost far more than desktops for the same capability, are harder to upgrade, and require far more maintenance. Consequently, I was once a strong proponent of laptops, but have since returned mine.
However, laptops are not free, and are a significant expenditure in both initial purchase cost and maintenance. The combination of tuition increase and laptop purchase escalates the cost of Lakeside education dramatically. We would purchase a laptop for Dan if convinced it was beneficial to his education. However, we are not.
Alternative to Mandatory Laptops
We can spend far less than the $1.5-2 million required to equip students with laptops and software, and also achieve much more than the mandatory laptop program could. The alternative to mandatory laptops is enhanced use of networked home and school computers using file sharing. The value of a laptop as a personal portable workspace has been leapfrogged by the rapidly developing state of high-speed networking and CD burning technology.
Instead, some of the money saved by not requiring laptops can be directed into appropriate computer infrastructure and education. Examples:
- Infrastructure
— sufficient school based computers, wireless access points for those students who prefer laptops, file serving capabilities for outside communications, and improved presentation and media equipment (e.g. projectors, digital audio and video recorders).
- Computer applications
— more like the "digital graphics" class that we hear Lakeside is offering next year. Many schools have made good use of computerized foreign language labs. Science labs can be equipped with student programmable data taking computer equipment such as "Labview."learning how to apply computers effectively to education will pay off far more effectively than the hardware costs. Let’s invest in learning from other schools’ experiences, and adopt computer educational techniques that have been proven to work.
- Curriculum development —
Especially Wasteful for Seniors
Next year’s seniors would be in the worst possible situation of having to purchase a computer only to be used during the first year of a new program, which realistically faces a significant learning curve.
Nicole Giuliani is a sophomore at University of Pennsylvania, a technologically advanced school. Students are not required to use laptops in school. Most of her friends do not use laptops, but instead use this same "networked" system using much more cost effective and reliable desk computers. Those who want to use laptops can do so, supported by campus wireless access points.
Hence, a laptop purchased for senior at Lakeside is apt to have marginal ongoing value. Having a limited number of technologically challenged 4-year old laptops available for $800 is not an effective economic solution.
Summary
The test of leadership is "followership." The proposed mandatory laptop program has met strong opposition for good reason.
The strategy of building upon a well implemented network system is a compelling, "win-win" alternative. The result will be to promote Lakeside to a leadership position, to prepare its students for college, to improve the value delivered to its customers, and to be responsive to the legitimate concerns of the Lakeside community.
We join you in wanting to make Lakeside and our students the best they can be in a cost effective way.
Sincerely,
David Giuliani and Patricia Roven Giuliani