Should Maine continue to provide 7th and 8th graders with laptop computers?
Lindsay Martel, 23, Poland
“Yes, to help their education. With all the new technology that’s around, they’ll need the experience.”
Michael MacVicar, 29, Sebago
“Yes. It just seems like a good idea to me. Then-Governor King said the program was supposed to be self-sustaining with the Internet going to pay for new computers – if that indeed is what’s happening – then go for it.”
Beverly Cooper-Pete, 46, Gray
“Depends on the utilization of the computers and who’s monitoring the computers and how it’s benefiting the students. It can open them up to the world, other students and other curriculums and cultures for their benefit. Or it can sabotage them.”
Corinne Jane Ladd, 46, Raymond
“I learned how to count to 10 and memorize the alphabet in Mrs. Millicent Mann’s kindergarten class in Mexico, Maine, and that has provided me enough information to travel far in life. I vehemently say, no. This preoccupies their precious minds, and they get distracted easily as it is. I say let’s go back to the good old days with colored chalk, a blackboard and teachers with a passion for their chosen careers. And the validity to my opinion is it’s a helluva lot cheaper for all those involved. Amen.”
Mike Kimball, 35, Windham
“I think we should. Sounds like an awful lot of money but times are changing and we have to keep up with the times. Technology is the here and now, and, if we don’t do it now, we’ll fall behind.”
Darren Tilley, 28, Limington
“Yes I do. Computer skills are the most important thing right now and the more education in computer skills our kids are getting the better.”
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