patrick.net

What about buying her an iPad, or (even better) a similar device that she can use, if there is one, or (best of all) building an equivalent?

"Don’t buy an IPAD, Make one!"

Now that would be educational.

I encountered the same thing at the local community college. They kept sending everyone direct mail ads offering "free" courses, and they're always borrowing money with public bond initiatives to promote "free" education. So I tried to register for a "free" course, and got bombarded with fees: "health services fee" (they don't offer any health services), online registration fee, etc. I ended up not enrolling. Then I read in the local paper that 92% of their budget goes to staff, they are losing their accreditation, and they may have to close.

If somebody set up a toll both at the entrance to the public library, I'd want to know who did that, on whose authority, and where is the money going. But when it's education or "health", we aren't supposed to ask questions. I find that especially ironic in the context of education.

Yes, we have an iPad so I'd be happy if they'd just let her use that, but it doesn't look likely, since they have some funky special keyboard, and they want complete control over it, erasing all apps and content that's on it and installing just school apps.

I can try that approach though.

I've heard that California public universities technically cannot charge tuition, so they make it up with fees. Similar scam.

Great point about it being very much like putting up a toll booth at the entrance to the public library.

Patrick, you are a one man PIRG. I appreciate how you've used your site for advocacy on other issues besides housing. I'm way out of my depth here, but one avenue worth investigating may be an escrow account. It'll probably cost you more in the long run, but you could have a third party hold the insurance funds (which will be released to the district only if the governor does not sign the bill this year).

Awful Patrick, awful. Fight this.

This is wrong.

Obviously illegal under the current law. Of course, one could make a case that the cost of an educational system should be socialized over those who have kids rather than over all people including the single. But that's another matter. Clearly, this poll tax is illegal. I'd sue the school system for punitive damages. They'd probably back down rather than risking far more money.

But yes, the insurance cost should be covered by the taxes that go to the public school system under the existing law.

I do find it offensive that the school is exposing kids to IPads. They should be using Android devices, not some proprietary Apple shit.

The more I think about this, the more I wonder where the fee came from and where it's going.

Big computer makers including Apple have tended to offer their products at deeply discounted prices for educational use, to maximize their market share in the next generation of customers and employees. So, Apple is getting some of the $, but they're providing in exchange a product that is worth at least as much as what they're getting. (I still think it would be better to have the kids build an Android or Linux device, but even that would involve some expense for parts.)

I suspect the markup is in the FIRE sector, specifically the Finance and Insurance side. A "middleman" is probably financing the cost for the school, and making a commission at both ends. I would want to follow the money, does the middleman have ties to school board members, e.g. "donating" to school board elections, etc. Consider how little the insurance actually costs: If a customer buys an iPad on a credit card, the card issuer often includes purchase insurance at no extra cost; they pay for that out of the fraction of a % that they get on the processing fee. How much would a rational person pay to insure a device that has no moving parts, is easily replaceable, and is going to be obsolete within two years anyway? That's where the hidden markup probably occurs, and in practice it is very likely shared out to decision-makers somehow.

I don't really want to alienate the school by suing them, but I'm not sure how else to get them to obey the law. Sheesh, you'd think the law would be enforceable somehow without lawsuits.

The more immediate thing is that my daughter is upset that everyone sees she's the only one who can't take it home. Anything I can do today?

The superintendent is not answering my emails.