To the editor:

I don’t want to sound like a Luddite or a Scrooge, but I’m afraid I don’t share your enthusiasm with the school district providing laptops for all of Lawrence’s high school students.

First, I think the jury is still out regarding the value of arming adolescents with laptops in the classroom. Much of the latest research suggests that these devices distract students and actually detract from learning.

Second, there’s the cost. While $3 million might seem like chump change to profligate school board members, people who recently paid their property taxes might look upon this purchase as extravagant. Also, knowing how most teenagers treat school property, it won’t be long before half of these computers become broken or lost. This proposed purchase sounds like a poor investment to me.