I taught at _____ for two years, where the laptop program was in full swing (and lots of technology dollars coming in from the ______ Foundation . . .). It seemed to me to be an unnecessary and colossal pain in the neck for all concerned. The kids not only had an extra 8 lbs. to carry around all day, but the computers were frequently being stolen, borrowed, misplaced, left at home or, more intrusively, were being used inappropriately during class to play games, and were frequently "out of service." This put a huge burden on the technology department who became either computer repairmen or brokers for computer repair shops, instead of the teachers and directors they were hired to be. The frustration level among students was enormous. And because of all the real technical difficulties, imagined technical difficulties soon became the greatest, most plausible excuse for not having homework done, for being late to class, etc. Of course, _____ is a very different kettle of fish from Lakeside, but I really wish our school administrators would spend their valuable time, and our valuable money, pursuing more worthy educational goals rather than focussing on this current fad.