Tennessee school demands iPads for students

In future an iPad may be a requirement for children going to school, and in Tennessee for some students it already is.

Webb School, a private school in Knoxville, TN is requiring all fourth through 12th grade students to have an iPad for classes next year.

“To be able to use that technology whenever they need it, rather than, as it is now, they have to check out a cart, a laptop cart, or schedule lab time to take a class to a lab,” said Jim Manikas, technology director at the school.

The school will offer leasing deals at around $20 per month. In time, it wants the iPads to replace text books — and promise sites such as Facebook or Twitter will be blocked on campus (good luck with that last one – herding digital natives just isn’t easy).