School laptops are more trouble than they’re worth (Editorial)

Students+can+stop+by+the+computer+help+desk+in+F05+for+help+with+school+distributed+laptops+but+only+during+certain+times.

Kenny Brenizer

Students can stop by the computer help desk in F05 for help with school distributed laptops but only during certain times.

School distributed laptops were meant to make school work easier, but is it failing at doing so?

Too many students are complaining about computer troubles. Work isn’t getting done in the classroom, as students forget their laptops at home or don’t charge them.

Internet access is also an issue. With all these students now logging on at the same time every day, server speed is significantly decreased.

Students who bring their own laptops from home don’t have much better luck. Some don’t have access to the same things, such as Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. Home laptops break too, but they don’t have a computer help desk to solve their problems for them.

Valerie Bushey, a member of the school’s library staff, said, “[Students] come in with computer problems all the time. We direct them to the computer help desk down in F05 or take them to the technology department.”

This may help, if the students schedule works out with the help desk’s available times, 10:50am to 2:30pm.

Students get excluded from certain activities in the classroom while their computers are being worked on or don’t have time to take their laptops in. Even fully functional laptops take ages to update, and those students have to wait and fall behind the rest of the class.

The hassle of carrying the laptops and cases is almost the worst part of them. While they have the ability to replace textbooks, some teachers still make their students carry around large bulky textbooks. Students are weighed down with laptops, textbooks, binders, and anything else that they may need. Some teachers don’t even use the laptops, while others use them every day.

So in the end, are the laptops really worth it? Between the accessibility, the weight, and the available assistance, I would say no.

Disclaimer: Articles designated as “Editorial” represent the views and opinions of the author, not the 2015-2016 Periscope staff, CHS Administration, or the CHS student body.