This past Wednesday, MHS finally gave each student their own chromebook after years of waiting in anticipation for the big reveal. Ever since the idea was introduced, everybody was ecstatic over these chromebooks. The idea of having your own laptop, instead of borrowing one each day during class, seemed efficient and useful, but little did we know that maybe the chromebooks we were once excited for, are actually a much bigger responsibility than we thought.

Of course it’s important for each student of any school to have access to a computer. With today’s technology, a large majority of work can be done via computer and even one’s cell phone. Internet access is also very important due to the fact that many schools have adapted to using google docs and google classroom which in some cases was very hard for students without computers. This is why the school funded for the chromebooks. These laptops are small and compact, made for transporting to and from school each day and are also the latest technology with a touch screen and new google software. As generous and smart as this idea may seem, a lot of people think otherwise.

MDO asked a few students for their thoughts and opinions on the chromebooks after having them for about a week. MHS Junior, Lauren Emmerich, stated “I highly appreciate the administration putting the time, effort and money into getting us all chromebooks, but I personally believe learning is best done using pencil and paper because it’s been scientifically proven that information is retained better that way. I think the money should have gone to air conditioning which in my opinion is more important, especially in a town like Madison where the majority of students have their own laptops”. Another student said “Students are already taking advantage of them by playing games in class”.

Students have not only complained about the lack of work being done on these computers, but also the responsibility of having to bring them back and forth from school. Once the school announced that we were to have our laptops fully charged and brought to each class every day, many students began to think the chromebooks were more of a burden than a “great idea”.

All in all, the school board tried their best to make our work as easy as possible for us students by purchasing these chromebooks, but I think they forgot to recognize some of the consequences and disadvantages they come with. Hopefully in the future there will be other options available for people who may not like the idea of having a chromebook. If you’re one of those people, look on the bright side- you can video chat your friends and download as many apps as you want…except Netflix.