Michigan iPod controversy explained

As it turns out, the whole Michigan iPod-per-student "proposal" was, as suspected, never even real. The Lansing State Journal reports that a portion of the budget proposal press conference included an off-the-cuff comment, while holding an iPod, that the Democrats wanted to get "one of these" in the hands of every kid in Michigan. Apparently this statement was not based on any specific proposal, but reflected the general desire of the individuals involved to improve the technology component of Michigan's K-12 education. Given the financial troubles of the state, it's not unreasonable for people to have questioned the statement, and it's going to be interesting to see how the repercussions play out (especially since some of the representatives involved accepted money from Apple to fly out to Cupertino).

iPods for Michigan: much ado about nothing?

Slashdot recently featured a post referring to a CNET post that referred to a Detroit News editorial lambasting Michigan's House of Representatives' Democrats' budget plan for 2008 that proposes spending $38 million to give every student in the state an iPod.

Or so one might think if they just looked at the vitriolic headlines and following discussion.

I've spent at least a total of 2 to 3 hours now searching for a specific iPod-related proposal, and I can't find anything. What I have found is that the Michigan House Democrats are calling their 2008 budget proposal the Road Map to Michigan's Recovery. The closest I've come is a reference to $38 million in iPod or MP3 player funding in a Detroit Free Press article reporting on the Road Map proposal.

So, is the lambasting here based on some type of insider knowledge that wasn't attributed or referenced (as in, information on a specific funding bill or proposal, and / or the name of the politician sponsoring it)? Is the proposal simply for educational technology funding, which people are assuming is for items like iPods? Is the proposal moot anyway because the sponsors of the bill are a political minority? It's certainly important to recognize that Michigan is facing some serious financial problems, but should this idea be rejected without consideration so that the state can focus on core services? As a technology-oriented teacher, I'd love it if all of my students had iPods. However, it'd take me a considerable amount of work and effort to use the new tool effectively - so hopefully, if true, the $38 million includes a significant amount of funding for teacher training - not on how to use an iPod, but how to integrate it successfully into an educational experience.

Time will tell whether or not the Michigan iPod controversy is legitimate, but it serves as the basis for good discussion. First, this kind of contentious proposal should be on the web before it hits the press - people will inevitably have questions, and primary documentation has proved to be difficult to find. Second, it's important to discuss the need to invest in education even in times of financial stress. Third, the cultural phenomenon of the iPod can't be ignored by educators, and, as with other technological and cultural innovations, should probably be embraced. Finally, the integration of technology in the classroom is difficult - educational processes have inertia, teachers are already largely working at capacity, and adding another widget in the mix is not always welcome.