Do we really need free Broadband for School Children?

**VRStu** · 23-09-2008, 08:04

Been hearing this on the news this morning that Mr Brown intends to give free Broadband to 1m Households. What a copmlete waste of £300 million that could be better spent elsewhere.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for giving kids a good education but to be honest most already have BB and if not it isn't essential but a nice to have.

The good old NHS bandwagon has got to be the first thought for where to spend the cash.

Makes me wonder what planet these people are on.

I'm having an anti Labour moment, in truth the Conservatives are no better.

Kids spend enough time glued into electronic devices, lets get the kids outside and enjoying a healthy life.

ap0gee · 23-09-2008, 08:12

I don't necessarily agree that healthcare should get priority over education, but couldn't the money be better spent on making sure every school had a decent reference library? £300M between ~30000 schools is £10k per school. And I reckon it's reasonable that primary schools wouldn't need as extensive a library as secondaries, so maybe some sort of weighting. I know SWMBO's school would love that sort of cash (although no doubt the board of governors would find more 'trendy' uses for it!

)

I must say I'd be stuffed for my job if it wasn't for the internet, however I like to think my bloodhound-like Googling skills were honed in a paper library...

Skodaboy1983 · 23-09-2008, 08:15

I don't think it should be given to households but more in the school itself. My old school where my 12 year old sister goes to now have their own broadband access where the pupils can check e-mails sent to the school, research things etc etc and they learn at the same time. I can honestly think of other things where money should be spent.

**VRStu** · 23-09-2008, 08:18

I agree that the money could certainly be better spent elsewhere in education, the NHS was simply an example.

I really do not see the need to provide BB to familes in the household, as mentioned above there are lots of places where BB is available such as the library's and schools.

daiking · 23-09-2008, 08:44

Like the free nursery places for 2 years old this is just soundbite politics. Big on whetoric*, short on action. I bet that about 3 computers will be supplied in the next 3 years at cost of about £300K each after all the quangos and focus groups get involved.

Besides, why is this just for school kids? First of all shouldn't every one have access to these type of facilites, the infrastructure should be in place in libraries and schools for everyone to use. Lastly, when do we get public free wireless internet everywhere? It doesn't need to be fast just a stable connection so that pubescent boys can 'benefit' from the internet.

The gubbermint spends enough of my money as it is. How about getting more value out of existing spends before splashing out on daft schemes.

(*typo but I like the Jonathon Woss-iness of it)

***Neo_VR*** · 23-09-2008, 08:51

Hmmm.

I would rather just spend the money on getting better computer suites in schools to leverage the infrastructure thats already there..

might be a bit stereotyped here but: families who dont yet have broadband are not likely to be very computer literate.. so by plonking a computer infront of them, along with the big bad internets is going to expose the child/family to the full force of it... animal pr0n n all..
at least the schools have sophisticated firewalls, antivirus, web-filtering in place to protect the children.

Aspman · 23-09-2008, 08:54

This has gone on for years.
The politicians are obsessed with 'shiny things'. They think the route to better education is paved with IT. The more computers they throw at it the better things will get.

You'd think that they might realise that good education starts with good teaching.

If you think that £300M for broadband is a waste of money you'd scream when you find out how much is spent on fitting and powering smartboards in every classroom. Our small local authority thinks that whiteboards + projectors could be costing £1000000 extra every year in power alone.

Free broadband will probably go to the feckless that already have the social paying for sky but won't feed their kids. Everyone else already has bb.

Blade404 · 23-09-2008, 09:16

I think supplying them with a general BB link to the net is a bad idea, what they could do instead is provide a link into the school network and filtered internet from there as well as access to all their school work and resources would be a much more worth while project.

This would help suspended or ill pupils from falling behind as well.

cjb · 23-09-2008, 13:48

Free home broadband for them will just mean more P2P filesharing and infected Wintel PCs in the homes.

The money would be better spent on the school or local library facilities.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aspman

This has gone on for years.
The politicians are obsessed with 'shiny things'. They think the route to better education is paved with IT. The more computers they throw at it the better things will get.

A good amount of truth there.

yegnold · 23-09-2008, 13:54

How about spend that £300m on providing better public transport links for people who can't get in to school without mummy/daddy giving them a lift, and actually do something useful with regards to slowing down environment damage. It'd be interesting if there were any statistics with regards to how much emissions in cities decrease during the summer holiday when there is no "school run" to get in the way and cause even more traffic congestion.

Aspman · 23-09-2008, 14:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by yegnold

How about spend that £300m on providing better public transport links for people who can't get in to school without mummy/daddy giving them a lift, and actually do something useful with regards to slowing down environment damage. It'd be interesting if there were any statistics with regards to how much emissions in cities decrease during the summer holiday when there is no "school run" to get in the way and cause even more traffic congestion.

That would cost actual money though.

If they announce 300M for free broadband how many people REALLY don't have BB. Not than many even amongst the feckless. They'll all have bb as part of their sky or mobile package.
So the Gov gets to make a headline catching statement with a large figure when the reality will be that it will only cost a million or two. Which is pocket money in governmental terms.
Either that or they will put so many barriers in front of actually getting the access that uptake will be minimal.

skomaz · 23-09-2008, 14:20

What a carp idea - lots of better places to spend that amount of money. If they really do want to use it on IT then spend it IN the schools on computer facilities that will benefit all kids going through the schools, not just those currently there...

Clunkclick · 23-09-2008, 15:03

Suppose BT have done their sums for the much vaunted upgrade to the consumer loop and found with current lending conditions they'll need some help - what better way to deliver a concealed subsidy to a near monopoly supplier ?

Nick

cheezemonkhai · 23-09-2008, 20:25

So how much is this going to cost the government including the huge support structure required.

Why not spend half the money on giving the schools decent IT equipment and providing a couple of hours of teachers after school until 5:30 or 6 at night.

Kids can use PC's and kids can work and parents can complete a full 9-5 job the school is giving a couple of hours of child care into the bargain.

Octygone · 23-09-2008, 20:32

It might just restore the balance a bit ...I was surprised (when my two were at school)that pupils with a computer and internet access got better marks than those that did everything the hard way (writing and looking up books) so it could provide a level playing field and let the underpriveledged few a chance to drag themselves up and improve

swedishskoda · 24-09-2008, 08:45

Kids need to learn IT literacy (including how to evaluate the information found on the web). But I agree with those above that have stressed the need to ensure that there are proper IT equipment in the schools (where kids kan work with help from their teachers).

Of course, broadband to everyone will create great job opportunities for the IT sector. Guess that there are a few Briskodians that could benefit from that

daiking · 24-09-2008, 08:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octygone

It might just restore the balance a bit ...I was surprised (when my two were at school)that pupils with a computer and internet access got better marks than those that did everything the hard way (writing and looking up books) so it could provide a level playing field and let the underpriveledged few a chance to drag themselves up and improve

My concern there is that children will only be marked for their copy/paste skills rather than comprehension of the subject which is also one of the main issues in the coursework vs. exams debate.

Dr Zoidberg · 24-09-2008, 08:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo_VR

Hmmm.

I would rather just spend the money on getting better computer suites in schools to leverage the infrastructure thats already there..

Yep , allowing more out-of-hours access to them for the whole community within a controlled environment is a better idea than just giving households a free connection to end up playing games and downloading porn.

It's what they have started doing with new schools being built to share facilities with a wider audience - pools used by the school in the day and as a leisure centre at other times for example - so this isn't a new concept and is proven to work.

swedishskoda · 24-09-2008, 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by daiking

My concern there is that children will only be marked for their copy/paste skills rather than comprehension of the subject which is also one of the main issues in the coursework vs. exams debate.

Which is why IT at schools is important so that the pupils can receive tutoring on how to properly use the web (which is a marvellous source of information). And at the unis, too!

jlwah · 24-09-2008, 13:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by VRStu

What a copmlete waste of £300 million that could be better spent elsewhere.

I rather think that simply saving £300M would be the best idea.

Particularly given that government borrowing could reach (a staggering) £100 billion next year as a result of bailing out the banks, lower tax receipts (everyone might moan about the city bankers and their bonuses, but remember that 40% went to HM Treasury!), higher unemployment and the ridiculous levels of government spending designed to keep the twonks in power

What happened to the end of "boom and bust" or GB's Golden Rule of only borrowing to invest? Quietly forgotten, in the hope that no one will notice how incompetent he was as chancellor.

I agree that the Tories won't necessarily be much better (and given what they're likely to inherit after the next election, expectations should be kept under a tight rein) but the sooner this shower of idiots are given the heave ho by the electorate, the better (imho

)

redbaron · 24-09-2008, 13:06

just wait and see how many labour mps will be "directors" of the it co's that install and maintain the "free" broadband

View Poll Results: Free Broadband for School Children
Good Idea	6	15.38%
Bad Idea	33	84.62%
Voters: 39. You may not vote on this poll

23-09-2008, 08:04	#1
VRStu Txt Spk Police Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 20,847 Members Car: Audi S3 Thanks: 145 Thanked 999 Times in 895 Posts	Do we really need free Broadband for School Children? Been hearing this on the news this morning that Mr Brown intends to give free Broadband to 1m Households. What a copmlete waste of £300 million that could be better spent elsewhere. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for giving kids a good education but to be honest most already have BB and if not it isn't essential but a nice to have. The good old NHS bandwagon has got to be the first thought for where to spend the cash. Makes me wonder what planet these people are on. I'm having an anti Labour moment, in truth the Conservatives are no better. Kids spend enough time glued into electronic devices, lets get the kids outside and enjoying a healthy life. __________________ Stu Stu's Websites - http://www.fabia-vrs.com & http://www.octavia-vrs.com Stu's Car - 2008 Audi S3 - Ibis White, Black Optics Pack, Privacy Glass, Auto Bi Xenon Headlights, Rain Sensing Wipers, Bose Sound System, Ipod Prep, GSM Phone Prep, Flat Bottom Multi Function Steering Wheel, Electric Folding Mirrors, Acoustic Parking, Cruise Control, Interior Light Pack, Non Smokers Pack. SWMBO's Car - 2008 Seat LEON TDi Stylance, Black Magic, Sports Pack, Rear Parking Sensors. Something for Weekend - A Patio

23-09-2008, 08:12	#2
ap0gee ASZ Eternal Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Leafy Chesh-shire Posts: 6,862 Members Car: Black Magic Fabia vRS Thanks: 346 Thanked 366 Times in 317 Posts	Re: Do we really need free Broadband for School Children? I don't necessarily agree that healthcare should get priority over education, but couldn't the money be better spent on making sure every school had a decent reference library? £300M between ~30000 schools is £10k per school. And I reckon it's reasonable that primary schools wouldn't need as extensive a library as secondaries, so maybe some sort of weighting. I know SWMBO's school would love that sort of cash (although no doubt the board of governors would find more 'trendy' uses for it! ) I must say I'd be stuffed for my job if it wasn't for the internet, however I like to think my bloodhound-like Googling skills were honed in a paper library... __________________

23-09-2008, 08:15	#3
Skodaboy1983 Skoda Junkie! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: East Lothian Posts: 9,780 Members Car: Skoda Fabia VRS 130 Thanks: 387 Thanked 271 Times in 263 Posts	Re: Do we really need free Broadband for School Children? I don't think it should be given to households but more in the school itself. My old school where my 12 year old sister goes to now have their own broadband access where the pupils can check e-mails sent to the school, research things etc etc and they learn at the same time. I can honestly think of other things where money should be spent. __________________ 05 Lemon Yellow Fabia vRS, PD160, Green cotton filter, Stripes and B pilar Graphics, Cupra Splitter, Aero Wipers, Rear Number plate surround, silvertec indicators, and led side lights, Forge Strut Brace, Black vRS Alloys, Whiteline ARB!! Soon to come: A wee nip and tuck, fresh look

23-09-2008, 08:18	#4
VRStu Txt Spk Police Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 20,847 Members Car: Audi S3 Thanks: 145 Thanked 999 Times in 895 Posts	Re: Do we really need free Broadband for School Children? I agree that the money could certainly be better spent elsewhere in education, the NHS was simply an example. I really do not see the need to provide BB to familes in the household, as mentioned above there are lots of places where BB is available such as the library's and schools. __________________ Stu Stu's Websites - http://www.fabia-vrs.com & http://www.octavia-vrs.com Stu's Car - 2008 Audi S3 - Ibis White, Black Optics Pack, Privacy Glass, Auto Bi Xenon Headlights, Rain Sensing Wipers, Bose Sound System, Ipod Prep, GSM Phone Prep, Flat Bottom Multi Function Steering Wheel, Electric Folding Mirrors, Acoustic Parking, Cruise Control, Interior Light Pack, Non Smokers Pack. SWMBO's Car - 2008 Seat LEON TDi Stylance, Black Magic, Sports Pack, Rear Parking Sensors. Something for Weekend - A Patio

23-09-2008, 08:44	#5
daiking DILLIGAF? Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: manchester Posts: 2,573 Members Car: Mazda 3 1.6 Thanks: 69 Thanked 96 Times in 82 Posts	Re: Do we really need free Broadband for School Children? Like the free nursery places for 2 years old this is just soundbite politics. Big on whetoric, short on action. I bet that about 3 computers will be supplied in the next 3 years at cost of about £300K each after all the quangos and focus groups get involved. Besides, why is this just for school kids? First of all shouldn't every one have access to these type of facilites, the infrastructure should be in place in libraries and schools for everyone to use. Lastly, when do we get public free wireless internet everywhere? It doesn't need to be fast just a stable connection so that pubescent boys can 'benefit' from the internet. The gubbermint spends enough of my money as it is. How about getting more value out of existing spends before splashing out on daft schemes. (typo but I like the Jonathon Woss-iness of it)

23-09-2008, 08:51	#6
*Neo_VR* Om nom nom nom Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 12,480 Members Car: A White Car Thanks: 79 Thanked 175 Times in 124 Posts	Re: Do we really need free Broadband for School Children? Hmmm. I would rather just spend the money on getting better computer suites in schools to leverage the infrastructure thats already there.. might be a bit stereotyped here but: families who dont yet have broadband are not likely to be very computer literate.. so by plonking a computer infront of them, along with the big bad internets is going to expose the child/family to the full force of it... animal pr0n n all.. at least the schools have sophisticated firewalls, antivirus, web-filtering in place to protect the children. __________________ ColGod the UberMod ,___, [O.o] /)__) -"--"- ORLY??

23-09-2008, 08:54	#7
Aspman Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,050 Members Car: Octavia VRS TFSI Thanks: 10 Thanked 59 Times in 52 Posts	Re: Do we really need free Broadband for School Children? This has gone on for years. The politicians are obsessed with 'shiny things'. They think the route to better education is paved with IT. The more computers they throw at it the better things will get. You'd think that they might realise that good education starts with good teaching. If you think that £300M for broadband is a waste of money you'd scream when you find out how much is spent on fitting and powering smartboards in every classroom. Our small local authority thinks that whiteboards + projectors could be costing £1000000 extra every year in power alone. Free broadband will probably go to the feckless that already have the social paying for sky but won't feed their kids. Everyone else already has bb. __________________ The TazZone Forums

23-09-2008, 09:16	#8
Blade404 ASBO-less Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The land of smoke & mirrors Posts: 4,230 Members Car: Black Focus Thanks: 80 Thanked 95 Times in 67 Posts	Re: Do we really need free Broadband for School Children? I think supplying them with a general BB link to the net is a bad idea, what they could do instead is provide a link into the school network and filtered internet from there as well as access to all their school work and resources would be a much more worth while project. This would help suspended or ill pupils from falling behind as well. __________________ One brush to tar them all! Ford Focus Titanium in Panther Black For information about joining the briskoda.net folding team click here..

23-09-2008, 14:20	#12
skomaz Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sheffield Posts: 958 Members Car: Octy TDi 4x4 Estate, Fabia TDi Estate & lightly modified Mazda MX5 1.8iS Thanks: 0 Thanked 44 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Do we really need free Broadband for School Children? What a carp idea - lots of better places to spend that amount of money. If they really do want to use it on IT then spend it IN the schools on computer facilities that will benefit all kids going through the schools, not just those currently there... __________________ If everything was as reliable as a VW... My Skoda would be at the bottom of the JD Power tables! Octavia II 2.0 TDi 4x4 Estate and Fabia I 1.9 TDi Estate and Modified Mk1 Mazda MX-5 1.8iS

23-09-2008, 15:03	#13
Clunkclick Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 475 Members Car: Thanks: 1 Thanked 15 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Do we really need free Broadband for School Children? Suppose BT have done their sums for the much vaunted upgrade to the consumer loop and found with current lending conditions they'll need some help - what better way to deliver a concealed subsidy to a near monopoly supplier ? Nick __________________ Illegitimi Non Carborundum - Comedy And Country

23-09-2008, 20:25	#14
cheezemonkhai Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 15,575 Members Car: Thanks: 111 Thanked 512 Times in 475 Posts	Re: Do we really need free Broadband for School Children? So how much is this going to cost the government including the huge support structure required. Why not spend half the money on giving the schools decent IT equipment and providing a couple of hours of teachers after school until 5:30 or 6 at night. Kids can use PC's and kids can work and parents can complete a full 9-5 job the school is giving a couple of hours of child care into the bargain. __________________ Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment. Last edited by cheezemonkhai; 25-09-2008 at 19:15. Reason: why was job/day swear filtered

23-09-2008, 20:32	#15
Octygone Old Git Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 6,822 Members Car: Octavia II tdi ..for now Thanks: 182 Thanked 116 Times in 75 Posts	Re: Do we really need free Broadband for School Children? It might just restore the balance a bit ...I was surprised (when my two were at school)that pupils with a computer and internet access got better marks than those that did everything the hard way (writing and looking up books) so it could provide a level playing field and let the underpriveledged few a chance to drag themselves up and improve __________________

24-09-2008, 08:45	#16
swedishskoda Briskadoodian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,092 Members Car: Felly Estate 1.6 LXi 1998 Thanks: 50 Thanked 165 Times in 151 Posts	Re: Do we really need free Broadband for School Children? Kids need to learn IT literacy (including how to evaluate the information found on the web). But I agree with those above that have stressed the need to ensure that there are proper IT equipment in the schools (where kids kan work with help from their teachers). Of course, broadband to everyone will create great job opportunities for the IT sector. Guess that there are a few Briskodians that could benefit from that __________________ It's feral ! It's fervid! It's a Felicia!

24-09-2008, 13:06	#21
redbaron Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 9,566 Members Car: Thanks: 15 Thanked 70 Times in 61 Posts	Re: Do we really need free Broadband for School Children? just wait and see how many labour mps will be "directors" of the it co's that install and maintain the "free" broadband __________________ ________________________________________ Some times I just feel like smiling.

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Do we really need free Broadband for School Children?

Do we really need free Broadband for School Children?

View Poll Results: Free Broadband for School Children