School’s Out … Now What??
Written by redqueeninla in Education
There seems to be some rather large unfinished business on the newly-approved seven-billion-dollar-budget-strong LAUSD table.
Namely, the approximately one-billion dollar ipad program. The great “social equity” push that places electronic toys in the hands of every tot to teen in LAUSD just like those available to their more privileged and/or pecunious counterparts attending private school.
“It’s a civil rights issue”, declaims our Superintendent. And yet what’s missing from this equation is the other components of injustice. Because everything’s relative and priorities are what matter.
Sure it’s a terrific idea for everyone to have equal access to the tools of power, the media, communications. There is no question that those who run the world utilize technology. And there is no question that those who would be part of the ruling class must be fluent with its fixings.
But there are no educators who mistake the reading of a book with the pencil used to write it. The pencil brings no comprehension of Truth, though without the means to debate its meaning, there would be no scholarship. Pencils deserve every bit as much accolade in our history as the printing press and the computer. But none of these means is the end itself.
So among the conversation about ipads for all, is lost the question of what we let go in securing all this. It’s easy to lose focus of the gritty reality when contemplating sparkly new toys.
But summertime underscores the real nature of the political choices we make, because summertime in Los Angeles can be hot. When school reconvenes in a School’s Out … Now What?? – redqueeninla: