Computers and software, without expensive technical support, would cost nearly the same as the books, but Jack Christie, the State Board of Education chairman, is counting on the generosity of computer companies to give the state discounts on equipment and donate their services. Christie's plan does not address after-school computer access. Unless homework also becomes a thing of the past, students would need computer access to complete classroom assignments. Inevitably, schools would have to spend more money for after-hours labs and taxpayer parents would have to spend even more money to provide computers at home.
Computers belong in the classroom as textbook supplements rather than their replacements.
I work for an electrical contracting firm in Abilene. I have been there since 1971 and over the years have seen a lot of changes. The one thing that has not changed is the problem of people who are not available to complete a 40-hour work week. I'm sure Grandma did not die 13 times in less than a year. Some are creative, some are absurd.