All of a sudden everyone starts at the same starting line. I truly believe schools throughout the country will make a nearly complete transition to digital books in the next decade. The business world understands that the future is digital, and the educational community is starting to understand it, but it's going to take a lot of marketing to sell this to the average person. Some people are understandably skeptical about using new media technologies in classrooms. I can't get my son to remember his raincoat, never mind a computer.
Critics often raise concerns about the so-called hidden costs for teacher training and maintenance.
Others worry that these devices might be used as a ploy to reduce the number of teachers. All the questions raised about this proposal are legitimate, but they can all be addressed. Certainly children are prone to losing things. Lost textbooks, along with coats, notebooks and lunches are common occurrences at all schools. But I suspect that parents and students will have a pride of ownership and a mutual interest in keeping track of and protecting their computers.