Wakefield Reacts to the MacBooks
The MacBook Airs have arrived. How does the Wakefield student body feel?
From November 17 to the 21, every freshman received a brand new MacBook Air for their studies. With these new laptops, students are encouraged to merge schoolwork and technology for a more efficient way of learning. According to the APS website, “the APS School Board set the technical direction for the division by establishing a strategic plan objective of providing every student with a personalized device by 2017.” The MacBooks are being given to the freshmen, only the freshmen. As more than 500 MacBooks were handed out, how are the upperclassmen taking it? How will these new devices impact the Wakefield learning environment?
Why are the freshmen the lucky ones? Is it unfair? Here is what junior Emma Burd thinks about the MacBooks; “it’s stupid because they’re not taking hard classes that require them to use the laptops.” Freshmen are lacking in AP and intensified classes, while upperclassmen are stuffed with essays and online work. Because of this, sophomores, juniors, and seniors feel the laptops are unnecessary and the freshmen will “probably destroy them” Burd said.
The freshmen are more than happy with their MacBook Air devices. Freshmen Kaiyah Fluitt said, “They’re cool because it will help us get our work done, and there [won’t] be any excuses.” The laptops are given to minimize the rate of missing assignments.
One thing the freshmen aren’t too excited about are the restrictions. The MacBooks main purpose is school work, they are not to be used or treated as a personal laptop.
Freshman Saron Dawit shared her thoughts on the restraints; “All of the restrictions aren’t necessary though, if they’re going to give us laptops [then] they should let us do what we want with them.”
The biggest fear is freshmen losing or breaking these expensive MacBooks. Sophomore Jason Chavarria said, “I’ve already seen [students] drop them and scratch them. They’ve only had them for like a week now.” Regardless, Assistant Principal Dr. Legagneur said, “All devices are tagged, coded, and tracked by APS and turning in a device to an administrator will be in [students] best interest.”
Overall, the new MacBooks are an academic upgrade and will hopefully have a positive impact on all of #warriornation.
Colton Poythress • Dec 23, 2014 at 10:40 am
The macbooks have been amazing and are so helpful to get done work when I need to. The macbooks are so helpful!
Aziza • Dec 23, 2014 at 10:16 am
I love the MacBooks sooooooooooooo much.I know you upperclassman are saying “it’s stupid because they’re not taking hard classes that require them to use the laptops.” but, 1. Just because we are freshman that doesn’t mean we don’t have AP or intestfied classes.(My spelling,though).2. We are going to use them until we graduate. So we use them amazingly.3. We are already finding ways to use the MacBooks for school.
Samy Achour • Dec 22, 2014 at 10:04 am
I love having my MacBook! It helps a lot!
Brandon Carpenter • Dec 17, 2014 at 10:39 am
The freshmen have a brand new school and equipment already.
Sanaa Elkalibe • Dec 17, 2014 at 10:36 am
I still can’t get over the fact that each freshmen got a free macbook air from the county. I think its just really unfair, i don’t even think that they would use it for actual school work. Seniors should have gotten the macbook airs, we need it more than they do!!
Nilofar Tokhi • Dec 15, 2014 at 10:22 am
Personally, when I heard about the Freshmen ONLY getting the MacBook laptops, not only did I get angry, but I felt the need to stand up and say something about this. This is not fair AT ALL. As a Senior, I don’t have a laptop, [well I did have one but it broke] the only time I have access to a computer is if I run up to the third level and go through the process of begging for a pass from a teacher, leaving me 10 minutes to run to the library and desperately cross my fingers for an open space, unless I use the slow one at home. Freshmen have the easiest classes, and not as many assignments as upper class men do. Some are irresponsible and don’t know what to even do on their laptops. I’m sure the majority use them for video games and Miniclip, even when they’re asked not to. Seniors have college aps, essays, AP classes, deadlines; I could go on all day. Having a laptop is a MUST for us. I’m not trying to have any hate towards the freshmen, but my question is why not us? We also have assignments to get done. Do they care more for Freshmen than the upperclassmen? Do they think it’s fair? Is it because there’s not enough? 500 laptops sounds like enough.
William Pan • Dec 23, 2014 at 10:17 am
I agree, although I’m a Junior. Seniors need the privilege to have a Mac-book too, they are ending the year and they need as much work for applications and researching done for a college. It would help them more than the freshman in my opinion.
KJU • Dec 12, 2014 at 11:24 am
>Getting emotionally devastated over not getting a MacBook when you could bring a laptop that’s probably better
Lulz.
adviser • Dec 14, 2014 at 11:44 am
Hello KJU…
(Use your real name to help with credibility.)
Where would students get the laptop that you suggest they bring to school?