A LOCAL school that encouraged students to buy Apple iPads through the school has sparked heated discussion on the Internet.
Qilin Primary School, affiliated with Shenzhen Nanshan Shiyan School, recently asked 88 students who signed up for a Chinese reading and writing class to buy an iPad through the school at a cost of more than 4,000 yuan (US$599) each, the Daily Sunshine reported yesterday.
One parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said that although parents knew a computer was indispensable for the computer-oriented class, an expensive iPad was unnecessary.
A normal computer is enough for a primary school student, the parent said.
However, another parent, identified as Zhang, claimed the iPad could enable children to better adapt to development in society.
Zhang claimed it was common practice for primary school students in foreign countries to use iPads in class.
Zhang Zuzhi, the vice director of Qilin Primary School, said most parents of the 88 students had agreed they would buy an iPad at a parents meeting in August. Only six parents objected, Zhang said.
Zhang claimed the school had conducted market research that showed the iPad had many advantages in learning and teaching.
Zhang insisted that the school had no intention of profiting from sales of the iPads.
One netizen, gmcc01, said there was no evidence to show that iPads were particularly helpful in teaching, either in China or in foreign countries.
The netizen went on to say that the iPad, designed for entertainment, could harm children s spinal and sight development.
Wang Qingguo, dean of the School of Continuing Education at Shenzhen University, said it was not appropriate to promote the use of iPads at school, because it would impose further financial pressure on parents and would not be conducive to fostering children s communication skills in the real world.
(Martin Li)
