Comments on: What If Every Child Had A Laptop?

Lesley Stahl Reports On The Dream And The Difficulties Of Getting A Computer To Every Child

[kjn277]

I am a special ed teacher in NYC and I know that my students would benefit by having laptops. We need to motivate them at all times, so they may reach their potential. Please consider us. Thank you. K. Novak

[mbonmik]

Is it $100 each and you must buy one for a child in the USA and one for a child in another country. I wouldn''t mind spending $200 for my child if half of that goes to the third world. If it is $400 for one for my child and one for theirs then WOW. Most of us need to qualify as disadvantaged. We gotta buy gasoline and groceries too. Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah!

[rd49017]

One Laptop Per Child is much like "No Child Left Behind". When will we realize that we were not all created equal? Like Will Smith, some will actually work to accomplish a task.

Not every child can pass Algebra or find what % 6 is of 7. Those that can, and do much more, will need to be allowed to move forward to earn incomes, become inventors, establish businesses, etc., to pay the taxes to support those who cannot. It is best that we allow these individuals to acheive to their maximum and they cannot do so with a phony program like No Child Left Behind in existance.

It is indeed sad when any child has a disability, however, an attempt to reduce all of society to a lower level should not be the objective.

[pumpkinsss-2009]

I am so upset about this show. Every child in our country should have access to this indestructible $100 mobile laptop. I know of hundreds of children in my small depressed community in Kansas, Oklahoma who could utilize this technology. Our country is going to hell in a hand basket. I haven''t found a cause that I have wanted to fight outside of our mistaken war in Iraq until now. We are making our country full of second class displaced citizens. Where do you think this is going? When I get on Negroponte''s various web sites I find the same thing that everyone else does. Why aren''t these laptops available to every child and/or poor illiterate adult in the United States for $100.00. I am so mad that I will not buy or contribute any money to anyone in the world until we have taken care of our own poor and displaced children who are so poorly educated now adays. What are we doing? This makes no sense to me. So the object is to have child in the world more computer literate and intelligent than our own children. I''ve worked very hard all my life and have never received one penny from any organization, but when I see kids around me who have so little with very little opportunity to have this type of technology available to learn it makes me furious.

[vchaos2]

pdough1, actually, teaching is my second career after raising a family over the past twenty-plus years and watching the huge amount of change that has occurred in American schools. I agree, the thought is scary - possibly abit harsh including "all" public schools; but, the comment was not to express partiality toward one group over the other. Children need, some want, to learn, American children are given the opportunity, most third-world children, are not. It would be a huge assest to all parents if they could spend a few days witnessing what actually occurs during a day in public schools; I say this not as a teacher, but as a parent of three.

[chihuahuacam]

I was most impressed with the segment Lesley Stahl did covering the one computer for every child story with Nicholas Negroponte''s genious of getting computer''s to all the children in the world! Having spent this last year in the mountains of Chihuahua Mexico and watching, witnessing the poor kids true thirst of knowledge on very limited schools funds: I too yearn for a Christmas wish of Negroponte to continue his quest for helping ALL kids in these third world countries achieve literacy and learning through the personal ownership and use of their own computer laptops! Right on Mr. Negroponte! Thanks for a great story of hope! Sincerely, ccollins

[mbonmik]

I would love to purchase an XO for my grandson and one for a disadvantaged child. I hope they consider sending them to the disadvantaged in this country too.
How do we order? Please post an address on your website. posted by mbonmik at 7:21 pm December 02,2007

[rho123]

Great idea for the children in the Gulf Coast area,native Americans and other impoverished Americans.
Would like to purchase one,but the site does not work,go figure.

[rho123]

Would like to purchase the XO computer, how can I do this, your site does not work.
These computers would work great down in the New Orleans,Gulf Coast area.

[jcbmpd]

In rural NH, there are also those families without electricity, running water, food, heat, or the resources to get to places where they might access the world through the internet. I appreciate wanting to open the world to 3rd world countries, and 3rd world countries to the world, but I also see how limited the world view might be for people who''s basic needs are not being met.
I WISH that I had more than one computer in my high school classroom. It is very hard to share it between 20 students(per period). We do what we can, but it is never enough. Technology is something that could propel them further, but, as it is, access to computers restrains some students from doing very basic things, such as completing assignments on time, communicating with teachers, or, exploring the world.
It seems strange to provide other countries with technology that our own children could use, especially with our concern about leaving no child behind.

[pdough1]

vchaos2, I agree with your implication that we need to be careful about becoming xenophobic. But in defense of Veronica, you are a teacher and I can''t help but feel that your generosity towards the underpriviledged(especially children in 3rd world countries) comes from the confidence of knowing that you are most likely tenured and belong to the teachers union. The rest of us (including Veronica) work for public and private companies where we have to worry all the time about competing globally while keeping our jobs.

[tfehrle]

I have to agree with the people who say that we need to help our children in the U.S. As for the person who said to stop whinning I have to guess her child has a computer. Because my child goes to a school of about 1700 and the teachers require that their homework is done on a computer. Yes, they have access to computers at the school, but there are only so many.

[rd49017]

Your readers see through you and your reporting. When are we going to begin to look at our own situation before trying to solve the world''s problems?

Charity begins at home.

[momzy1]

I would gladly purchase two computers. One for my grandson, and one for a needy third world student. I just can''t get the website up to do it. Could someone tell me what I''m doing wrong? If this little computer is everything it showed on TV, $200 is very reasonable, don''t you think?

[Euroelo38]

Wouldn''t it be a better idea to give dissadvantaged kids in this country a free laptop? I mean if every kid in the world should have a free laptop then why isn''t Amerian kids part of that? And why are we helping other countries get technology? So they can learn how to attack us easier or infiltrate our society eaiser? I''m an immigrant 20 years and books would be a better idea to keep kids educated abroad. So I will buy a computer only if it gives kids in foster care or in orphanages in this country a free computer. We have so many needs here so why take from our kids the advantage that could help this country stay strong.

[vchaos2]

"we should stop immigration, its foreigns like him who think they can come into America and take what our ancestor fought so hard for. Well Im a red blooded American" - Veronica, I fail to see how offering a laptop to third world countries creates a concern as to the "take over" of America. Regardless, you mentioned "what our ancestor fought so hard for" - was it not immigrants who came to America and established the country that we all now live in?

[grammawhamma]

I am all for helping the poor in the US first...however I find it interesting to read all the posts from people who say how poor they are and would like to buy this comp for their kids for Christmas. How poor are you really if you are typing comments on this site now? Can you not share your comp with your kids? If you are typing this on a comp at work...get back to work!

[westvalley74]

Mr. Negroponte''s dream is a honorable one. But i would not support that idea for China,Pakastan,and all the other countries that are communist and againt the US. It is a sad thing when a born-american citizen looses their home after 15 years and can not find no help to keep it BUT a foreigner such as Indian,Pakastani, Arabs, etc. can get all kinds of money from the US government agenices(free health care-food-housing)and start a business and not have to pay taxes for seven years. But when AMERICAN BORN CITIZENS can not get help, that dosen''t matter. Oh but the government can take taxes out of my pay to give to foreginers for a good life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I want a lap top for my daughter who is 13 but I can not afford one for her and another child. But, if I knew the lap top would go to a "legal american child"I would certainly try to find a way to buy both

[ginnie32]

I was so excited to think I was going to be able to buy my 9 year old son a laptop for christmas, only to be disapointed that I had to buy for a child outside my Country. Yes I work and wish I could afford to buy for my son but I have MS and I am still working and my medicine is so expensive, that I cant afford to buy for my son plus a child in another Country. How about if we start worrying about our own Counrty for a change. AND YES BLUEEYES1319, I am not narrow minded, and many Americans are appreciate and are not selfish. But when the problems is staring you in the face daily; right here in your own town and schools it is hard to ignore. Wake up and look around your own neighborhood you might be surprised the poverty right in your own backyard if you open your eyes. and look outside your narrow box

[granny20031]

How could 60 Minutes have not ask "what about our kids in the U.S. Where do these people live that they can not see the need for this program in our own schools. The schools on the US are trying to raise money for computers for the school. Also, if some schools have computers, the kids cannot take them home.I agree with pdough1 We should all remember this in the voting booth 2008.