I’m just amazed your daughter’s school is requiring them! It’s quite an indulgent item and to assume that everyone can afford them and must get them is quite presumptuous!
Of course you’d want the iPad2 for the upgrades and that it’s the same price as the original, but not sure you really want your daughter (and her friends) to have access to the cameras and the immediate ability to upload to youtube! I just think those are features that should be held off until kids reach emotional and psychological maturity to handle the responsibility!

@LogicalMama — EXCELLENT point on the iPad 2′s features. W/ regard to the school requiring them… I must say, I was really taken aback. I mean, honestly? I’d almost rather them supply them and roll the cost into the tuition, you know? It is an expensive school, but it’s also an excellent school. And I really believe in it. Great reputation for getting kids into fantastic colleges. Still, I was all like, REALLY? And iPad? That we’re paying for?
@Jocelyn — what fantastic feedback. I’m so glad that it’s working for her. Though, I feel I’d have less of a problem with it if my daughter were in high school like yours. Thanks so much for commenting.

Yes, I agree John, if they are requiring, the school should provide them. At the very least, it’s yours and you take it with you when you leave, but really, they should be loaners from the school. The cost should be minimal b/c the school should get a bulk purchase discount from Apple and then they can pass them on as the kids move forward! While I think they are great tools, they are also great toys and with the ability to take it out of sight of supervising adults and have access to the internet, youtube (as I said before) and possibly the cameras and of course, iTunes– there is a lot of trouble to be found! I guess I’m just jaded… I know what I would have been doing if I had that kind of tool at that age!
Me? I want the new white one! With a blue cover! My 8 year old believes he should get my iTouch if/when I get an iPad! Ummmm, probably not–yet, anyway.

@glenda — really, glenda? because i’d love to cut and paste your entire comment on http://getalife.com. I think that site may redirect you to http://bitterness.com. Not 100% sure on that though.

@Niteshooter — great suggestion, but we have to buy it through the school. That was the only way Apple would give the school the modest discount it agreed to give — if everyone bought a new iPad from them. No refurbs…

I don’t think were far off from the days of every classroom, public or private, requiring some form of technology in the class room (laptop, ipad or similar). .

Whether we as the adults like it, we do live in an age of technology and our modern conveniences are changing more than the way we shop or connect with friends. It’s more than a ‘fun’ or ‘work’ only device. It’s access to vast amounts of knowledge quickly.

We welcome the technology into the home with our 3 and 4 year old. It’s not that they have access to things like Facebook, but we provide them access to programs that help with learning to use a mouse or learning the keys of the keyboard. The time they spend on the computer is monitored and they have to ask. With our iPads and iPhones the devices are password protected and we monitor what Apps they can play with. When and where possible we set the strictest parental controls possible. We also have tracking software on all the devices in the event of loss or theft. And with kids, extended warranties are not a bad idea ;)

I think it’s valuable that for this next generation they become proficient at the use of technology so they can keep up with their generation, not the ideals of ours. Do my kids spend plenty of time outside and active, absolutely! It’s all a juggling act. One of my jobs as a parent is to prepare them for THEIR future. Lets face it, the use and convenience of high tech gadgets is a way of life.

How mature of you John Cave Osborne. If you didn’t want Glenda or anyone else to point out how silly it is to complain about how expensive an ipad is for your child when you can afford to send your children to a private school then maybe you should not post on a public forum. And its not as if Glenda really insulted you by suggesting this post be on put on White Whine. After all, you seem to think that Glenda is bitter that she can’t (or maybe she can, do you know her?) afford to send hypothetical children to private school. You should be proud to be featured on such a site so that you are able to convey how successful you are to the world. Should everyone who disagrees with you “get a life”? What are you blogging if any remotely negative comment clearly gets under your skin so easily?

@Al — the reason why I wrote that was simple: tit for tat, my friend. Don’t think I’m “whining” at all. Think, instead, that I’m a parent who is lamenting the fact that I might be spending $600 on outdated technology. I have no idea if Glenda can afford to send her kids to private school or not. Nor do I care. You seem far more preoccupied with this (minute) aspect of this post than anyone else.

John – Although I’ve heard of many schools deploying *some* iPads to computer labs and classrooms, and several schools to every student, this is the first I’ve heard of them requiring parents to purchase them. Did the school mention any type of savings that might result, such as having saving money on textbooks by having digital editions on the iPad?

I think the iPad does have a place in education, and that place is growing daily. Personally, I love the iPad 1 and think it’s a great version for kids. It’s too bad the school won’t let you buy used or refurbished units though.

We’ve made an iPad case (Muvn Case) that works really well for kids, because it is padded (shock-resistant) and has nice curved edges so it’s easy to hold. We’re also working on a school-friendly carrying case for it as well.

http://www.gomuvn.com