Don’t unplug technology initiative

I am writing about hidden and not so hidden messages that I feel might be sent soon by our fearless leaders in Augusta. The messages will be sent to teachers, students and businesses not only in Maine but I fear the message will be heard outside of our state borders.

These messages will result if a group of legislators is successful in derailing the soon to be fully implemented Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI). I did not call this the “governor’s laptop plan” as most know it by. It is much larger than just one man’s idea. The initiative involves thousands of Maine teachers, students, volunteers, administrators and parents. The MLTI involves systems changing, infrastructure being built or modified, people stretching themselves professionally, personally and physically, students waiting with excitement and intrigue and of course many thousands of computers being delivered to destinations all over Maine.

The most recent headlines read that some legislators are trying to search for more money by looking into backing out of the contract the state signed with Apple computer. I guess they think that one way of plugging the huge holes in the state budget would be to completely destroy and eliminate the most exciting and daring education initiative in recent history. I want to add that I understand and agree that this is a tough time for the state and the timing went from perfect to rotten for this initiative almost overnight. That being said, the messages that will result from this being unplugged this far into the game will be large and long lasting.

Message No. 1: Dear teachers, we understand that you were pretty excited about this project but we are sorry to inform you that we just can’t let it go through. We know that many of you have already put in many, many hours learning not only the technology but also talking about and thinking how to change the way you teach in the new digital classroom that we were going to outfit you with. However, we need to find some money somewhere and even though we have voted on this initiative more than once and that it is technically a law, we are going to back out of the contract with Apple. As a result, we will have to return all the computers, wireless network components, staff development they have delivered and all the other things Apple has done for you that wasn’t included in the aforementioned contract.

Message No. 2: Dear students, we hope you are having a good summer working, playing, and sleeping in. We have some bad news. Instead of going to 7th grade in the fall and finding an exciting new world of inquiry and using learning tools that are up to date and connected to the world we are sad to inform you that things will be, well, just like they were in the sixth grade. That is not to say that our schools are bad and that you wont get the best education available, it just won’t be the world-class, forward-thinking and current classrooms we said we were creating.

To all the students who were lucky enough to participate in our exploration phase last spring, thanks for proving to us that this is a great idea and that seventh grade is a perfect place for this project to start in. You treated the computers very well, the work you created was outstanding and you really validated the entire program. Thanks for all that hard work. I hope you can retrieve all that work from the laptops before we have to come and take them away.

Message No. 3: Dear business leaders, We would like to explain to you that we really want you to move your business to Maine. It is a great place to live and you’ll love our new three lane highway when it is done in three or so more years. We know that you probably read the headlines about the state of Maine breaking a $37 million contract with a major computer company. That was an unfortunate experience but we really needed the $15 million left in the “laptop” bank account to fill in a 100 million dollar hole we had in our bigger state checkbook. In retrospect, that $15 million really didn’t fill the hole and we wish we didn’t void such a sweet contract but “oh well.” In terms of you moving your company here and bringing with it jobs to replace all the ones we have lost in the mills, we would love to have you. We just ask that you not ask for any money from us and please don’t expect that we will change our ways to accommodate you and all your market capitalization.

Please don’t think for a second that if we can “kill” the MLTI before it gets fully started this fall, these messages and many more aren’t heard loud and clear. It will be devastating, most importantly to the kids who look up to us for guidance, wisdom and knowledge.

If you would like to talk about the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, contact me at echamberlin@middlemaine.org. Remember that this e-mail address will not be functioning if they pull the plugs.

Eric Chamberlin is an eighth-grade social studies teacher at Boothbay Region Elementary School, and a regional integration mentor for the Maine Learning Technology Initiative.