The coolest kindergarten ever: iPad 2s for everyone

Short answer: no

iPads don't teach anything. They are a resource, like the web. In theory you could become a doctor, since the web holds plenty of information about science and the body. How likely is it you will be one though?

Part of the 'crisis' in the US, is that teaching is seen as a form of career failure and not a respected profession in some quarters. The most gifted graduates don't go into teaching. The fact some of you believe 'iPads teach' shows this problem can only get worse...

So, the ultimate question is, "will a 700 dollar investment in an educational tool as sophisticated as the iPad do a better job of teaching our children than tens of thousands every year for teachers?"

Not in favour for kids at that age. What kindergarten kids need to do is develop social skills and not sit by themselves or just another supervisory adult holding an iPad. Don't get me wrong, I like iPads, but at this age they don't work. Mixing paints, using a real pencil or paper is really important for children to experiment with, get used to real world materials and develop fine motor skills. Older kids will definitely get something from these devices, as will teachers presenting lessons.

"Massachusetts is launching a new program whereby students can go to high school at home, on their computer. They're trying to automate the role of teachers.

Imagine a life where you can tele-commute K-12, college, work, and then retire without ever leaving your home."

Worrying trend towards social withdrawal, posed as a form of progress... discuss...

What a waste of money. what happened to pencil and paper. its cheaper and won't break down and if you spill water on it you get another piece.
the problem with the literacy rate has nothing to do with schools and teachers it has to do with parents. When are we going to stop blaming teachers and as parents take some responsibility for our children's education.

The state of Maine has severe financial problems and this purchase comes as no surprise. They have been purchasing Apple laptops for every public school student in the state for many years.

I live in Los Angeles and my kindergartener just competed in "The Apple Fitness Challenge" to get iPads and iPod touches for the school by raising money at home to sponsor the kids. Meanwhile 9 of the school's 17 teachers got pink slipped. So apparently the iPads are more important than the teachers at my kid's school. But worse than that if a kid hasn't learned the ABC's before kindergarten than they've got bigger problems than missing teachers and ipads.

Does anyone know what application this was? I noticed it on the commercial and I'd like to check it out.

My son and daughter's school have been using iPads and iPod touches for about the year the iPads have been out,so this isn't the first in the country

No one bats an eye at spending 200k on textbooks (and yes a district can spend that much on books) but spend it on technology lightyears ahead of a textbook with infinite more possibilities and people flip. Everyone wants education to be better but sticks it with old technology because it's good enough.

yeah, that's what education is all about: being cool.