640 000 iPads arriving in the hands ot LA school kids

Is it a good idea or not? 640 000 iPads worth millions of dollars will be given to school kids in Los Angeles for free. The first batch of 31 000 will be given this year and the remaining majority of 609 000 iPads is coming next year.

The idea is of course to bring the digital age into classrooms, but what seems weird is the prices that has been quoted for the first 31 000. That price is $31 million, making each of the iPads cost a thousand dollars. To purchase the rest, the Los Angeles School Board of Education will need to secure additional funds.

“The most important thing is to try to prepare the kids for the technology they are going to face when they are going to graduate,” chief facilities executive at LAUSD Mark Hovatter said. “This is phase one, a mix of high school, middle school, and elementary students. We’re targeting kids who most likely don’t have their own computers or laptops or iPads. Their only exposure to computers now is going to be in their schools.”

It is not just stock iPads - all of the tablets will of course come pre-loaded with textbooks and all sorts of educational applications. An impressive 47 campuses in Los Angeles will be covered.

source: Cult of Mac