In recent years, different school administrations have been discussing the digital divide between the “haves” and “have nots.”
Many new and state-of-the-art technologies are developed daily, and most of them are being directed at the younger generation. As technology has advanced, so has the gap that divides access to these technologies, driving changes in how people work, learn, and live.
As a result, school districts across the country are trying to lessen the gap by replacing books with thinner and lighter tablets.
Senior Kainoa Cachia said, “Getting tablets for students would be beneficial because it would help us get ahead and start using basic technology to obtain information, which we will need to know in the future.”
Like any controversial topics, there are always different point of views. Sophomore Alex Yih said, “Tablets cost a lot and if there’s no internet connection then the tablets aren’t as effective.”
Cachia said, “Some pros include basic how-to’s with tablets, saving paper, and efficient use of time and resources.”
According to ProCon.org, a 4GB tablet filled with 3,500 e-books weighs a billionth of a billionth of a gram more than of if it were empty of data — a difference that is approximately the same weight as a molecule of DNA. The same number of physical books would weigh about two tons.
Two fundamental problems educators have with tablets are the distractions students are faced with, as well as the access to internet and tablets.
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) approved the use of iPads for students. However, LAUSD treated a security breach when students used their iPads for personal use as a crisis. At Westchester High and two other schools where students managed to liberate their iPads, the district ordered that all tablets be returned.
Junior Stephanie Reiser said, “I personally would love the idea of a tablet to be part of the learning environment. But, parents send their kids to school to learn and if the technology is taking the learning away, that can cause more harm.”
