The main problems here isn’t the students, it’s the school admin. The admin wasn’t prepared with the technical expertise to adminster the program, they weren’t concerned with security at the start and failed even after it was proven crackable to get concerned with it. Nor was the admin concerned with asking about ways of controlling the software from the maker of the Mac’s. When everything failed, the admin covered their butts and left the students to hang in the public dirty laundry. For myself I can think of several ways to at least limit the access of kids to those things they deem of questionable value.

That the admin threw up their hands rather than just confiscate the laptops of those problem children that suceeded in learning beyond the admins limited scope of expectations isn’t the children’s fault. The school board seriously failed those children by letting it reach federal law level. Obviously those of the school admin should never again release a tool to the students that they aren’t willing to allow them to learn. Those of that school board and the admin of the school should be replaced in its entirety in hopes that there is someone of better caliber to lead learning. Those that are incumbent haven’t a clue as to what they are doing and it shows in allowing those students to ever reach “being in trouble” with the law over school supplied equipment.

“But in the background is Apple Computer, one of the major firms whose relentless school marketing schemes end up with students using one, and only one, product, whether they want to or not.”

Come on. Apple is a corporate entity who sells products. That school districts use their money to buy a single product line from a single company is unfortunately necessary. Given school funding being what it is, there is not enough money in any school districts pocket to pick and choose the technology they want. “Em, I’ll take one from Colum A, two from Colum B, three from Colum C, a couple of servers and a switch from the lunch specials….”

Instead, schools have a limited budget to spend and they request responses from all companies on what can be provided them for a specific price point. That they chose Apple in this scenario speaks to the quality of the product (and by product I mean more than the hardware outlined here).

It is becoming more and more commonplace, since the 70s anyway, to need to find the single entity that is the cause of our woes. And, too often it cannot be “our” fault for anything. That Apple’s products were in place in the school does not make the issue’s Apple’s. You don’t sue Ford when someone driving an Excursion runs over your dog, you take it up with the operator of the vehicle.

Darn that Ford Motor Company. They are insidious with their slogans and marketing campaigns. Why do we need to use Ford buses at the school? Everyone should be able to choose their own bus manufacturer to get to school. Why, it must be a conspiracy. A plot. That’s what it is!

I think that Mr. Mullen has nailed it. Regardless of the technology you implement, you need to have the correct qualifications for its use. Whether that is a Class A license to drive a bus or the prerequisite skills to adequately secure a network environment from the inquisitive minds of students.

That we now punish students for being curious is the most frightening aspect of the situation. But, I suppose that is simply an outgrowth of our society’s aversion to accountability at all levels.

Be smart here.