Who supports the idea of giving computers to every seventh grader in the state for personal use? Well, all seventh graders I assume. And numerous college professors and possibly some administrators. Who asked the people who work with middle school students every day? Let them be the deciding voice.

The overwhelming response among educators is “how ridiculous.” What will happen to these wonderful and expensive learning tools in the hands of seventh graders? If this proposal ever becomes reality, it will be a costly lesson for taxpayers. We will learn the hard way that the majority of these kids are simply not responsible enough to take care of a $500 piece of equipment.

The common sense approach to this issue is simple. If we want to spend this money on laptop computers for each child, let’s make sure they have the opportunity to use them in the classroom under the instruction of well-trained and computer-literate teachers. We need to set up portable computer labs for every school in the state. We need to fund technology training for all teachers so they can be valuable resources to their children. I’m sorry to disappoint you supporters of this proposal, and especially you seventh-grade children, but it’s about time we start being realistic. Michael Louder Pittsfield