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Re: laptops

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 10:36 am
by pinkhebe
I asked my son whether he felt that having his own laptop would help with his studies, and he was very honest and said 'no' (bearing in mind he is going into the 3rd form). But he did then grin and say 'he'd like one' :D

On a positive note, the more children who have their own laptop will mean there'll be more space in the computer rooms for those who don't :D

Re: laptops

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 10:53 am
by YadaYada
I specifically got my DS a netbook rather than a laptop as it has no disc drive so I thought he was less likely to take any of his games or films back. He is also only allowed to use it at school so that he hopefully doesn't get tempted to download stuff at home on to it. I also 'clean' it up each holidays - virus check, etc so this gives me a chance to see how much work is on there!!

I think it is about as much as I can do as a parent....got to trust the school for the rest of it but then that is what we are doing with every aspect of their lives for the time they are at school.

I know that he does use it a lot for work and I got it partly because he was often frustrated by not being able to get on a house computer although Pinkhebe makes a very good point that these should be freed up now.

Re: laptops

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 10:56 am
by ScottLidgettLad
Hi Ya
Is entry to 3rd Form when they are first allowed laptops/ipads etc ?
I am a bit confused about this due to the fact that most mobile phones can access the WWW these days eg Blackberry & iphones etc.
I understand that they all have mobiles from day 1 (apart from Mid B we agreed to maintain the 3wk no contact tradition until the 1st leave weekend)
Can anyone shed light on this. My DS is starting 2nd Form in Sept.
Many thanks

Re: laptops

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 12:20 pm
by YadaYada
I don't know whether there is a policy about when students can take laptops as this is quite new. My DS is going into UF and last year was the first year that the school had a wi-fi network that they opened up to students. It looks like they are now expanding it and encouraging more students to take laptops back.
You will have to check with the school if this includes Second Formers.

Re: laptops

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:02 am
by J.R.
As as a well advanced Grand-Dad, (and a modertor of this forum), I would like to ask PARENTS on here exactly what THEIR definition of pornographic/pornography actually is ?

I do have a valid reason for asking !

J.R.

Re: laptops

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:19 pm
by ailurophile
As as a well advanced Grand-Dad, (and a modertor of this forum), I would like to ask PARENTS on here exactly what THEIR definition of pornographic/pornography actually is ?
This is an interesting question JR, and one that I thought about last week when I read anniexf’s post.

A few years back, one of my friends was alerted by another mum that some of the boys in their sons’ school year (aged 13 - 14, and at a very exclusive independent school) had been looking at online pornography. My friend checked out her boy’s viewing history and was horrified to find that he’d been able to access sites showing what she described as “horrible depravity… things I’d never even imagined and that made me feel physically sick” (and I don’t think she’s unduly narrow minded!). Do teenagers really just snigger and move on from this type of material, as Annie suggests? And more importantly, is it acceptable for them to do so? As Pinkhebe said, you wouldn’t want your child to start thinking that this type of pornography represents the norm.

Re: laptops

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:25 pm
by J.R.
As an oldie, who originally self-taught himself on computers several years ago, then finished his working life on/with them for 6 years, I have been able to 'discover' so many sites, purely on curiosity grounds you understand..........

I will enlarge this post further when more mums and dads voice their views !

Re: laptops

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:41 pm
by anniexf
You can get "Adult Filth" (sic) on tv's Channel ** ( number hidden in case anyone under-age looks in here ), after the watershed presumably, on Freeview - you don't even need Sky. We were alerted to this by a relative who'd been up half the night supervising the gasmen who were digging up her garden looking for the source of a leak. Anyway, she put the tv on and - shock, horror! She's 70 and pretty broadminded but ...
We may check it out for ourselves, purely objectively and for research purposes of course. There are several other such channels. I'd be very surprised if today's youngsters are as ignorant of this as we were. My point is that you don't need the internet to access pornography, you can just point the remote at that box in the corner.

Re: laptops

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:12 am
by lippizaner
As a parent of a child about to go into the second form, I rather foolishly had taken this letter as being good, until I read this thread and changed my mind! I can quite see now all the problems likely to occur, and it fills me with dread as without doubt my son would be led astray out of curiousity, I fear. He is no angel.
However I don't want him to be the odd one out without a laptop.
We have one he can use, not new, given us by his much older brother and currently being updated with good virus protection, new battery etc and good programmes. So it won't cost us a penny for this, and it is not worth much so he can safely take it with him.
I find myself now in the proverbial cleft stick. Do I let him take it and risk it? Or do I do an about turn and change my mind which will make me really popular with him? Oh dear. Time for reflection.

Re: laptops

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:39 am
by Volupturaptor
My daughter, just about to go into the 3rd form, will not be taking a laptop. I simply cannot pluck one out of the air for her, and I'm still not sure I'd want to, even if I could. IF is seems she is being very badly left behind by not having one, I'll consider reviewing the situation around Christmas time.

Re: laptops

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 11:53 am
by pinkhebe
My son won't have one either (3rd form).

laptops

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 7:43 pm
by cupcakemom
My DD's also about to start third form and will not be taking a laptop - I can just about stretch to new shoes ... A laptop is way beyond my reach at the moment!

Re: laptops

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 8:22 pm
by MW224
Same here. My DS is about to go into 3rd form and will not have laptop.I am not so much concerned about security aspect, it's purely financial and the fact that I could do with new one my self to be honest.....

Re: laptops

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 6:54 am
by CHDad
My son had my old laptop when he was in the 3rd form. However I think he hardly used it for school work at all so I would not worry too much. Whether things will change over time so laptops are used more I dont know.

Re: laptops

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:22 am
by J.R.
I honestly believe that in this rapidly growing age of IT, a lap-top will soon become an ESSENTIAL for school work.

Thankfully, the two remaining GC at school don't find the need for a lap-top at school.

More expense ?

Youngest daughter certainly COULDN'T AFFORD a lap-top, let alone TWO !