While there is a place for the limited use of devices like iPads in schools there should be absolutely no pressure on parents to buy them.
That’s according to Aontú’s Monaghan Rep Olivia Larkin who says she has seen a ‘definite push’ for them with some companies who sell these devices actively encouraging teachers to support their use in schools
She says
“There is a push towards it but although there is a limited place t\for them in general, I find them to be a major distraction. I feel they are actually a hindrance if kids have them with them all the time in front of them in the classroom. A major study by Neuroscientists at Columba University’s Teachers College has decisively shown that there is a clear advantage for students who learn from papers rather than on screens. Norwegian research have also shown ‘deeper learning’ is achieved using textbooks and other countries are now avoiding devices and going back to textbooks. It’s quite marked that a time when other countries education systems are avoiding devices, in Ireland we are pushing for them regardless”.
She says
Expecting parents to shell out for iPads for their school going children at any time is a bit rich, but in the grip of a severe cost of living crisis it is absolutely shocking
“As a teacher and parent, myself, I know first-hand the huge pressure people are under.
Not a day goes by now, but people are grappling with cost increases in their day-to-day necessary expenses and already the ESRI (Economic and Social Research Institute) is forecasting more food price hikes come September
We are facing into an ‘autumn of discontent ‘and the Central Bank is sounding warning bells about inflation potentially going up to 5% next year.
Of course we live in a ‘digital age’, however the preference for many students is to study through books and these of course are free to all students in primary and special schools and to those post primary students whose schools come under the Free Education Scheme.
Asking parents to spend hundreds of euros on iPads is an unnecessary burden and one that is simply unfair. It actually doesn’t make sense when they have the free books.
For households with a number of children the potential costs would run into the thousands and given we have more than half a million households in energy arrears, potentially having to buy iPads is simply one further expense too far”.
