Posted on 08/28/2010 10:13:39 PM PDT by John Semmens
University efforts to test Amazon’s electronic readers—Kindles—as substitutes for standard textbooks has run into trouble with the Obama Administration. The idea behind using Kindles is to save money by supplanting bulky paper-based books with lighter and smaller electronic devices. For example, one small hand-held Kindle could hold all the books needed for a four-year degree.
Despite the seemingly obvious benefits, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is threatening legal action against any school that might be tempted to try the devices. Thomas Perez, head of the Civil Rights Division, warns that the devices violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“Even though uses of the devices are voluntary and no one unable to use the device would be made any worse off than they were under the old system, allowing some to save money and avoid the inconvenience of lugging around heavy texts cannot be permitted,” Perez declared. “Progress that isn’t uniform across all demographics is discriminatory. Until all can take the same step into the future, no one must be allowed to inch ahead.”
Perez characterized the need to prevent Kindles “one of the easy calls. We’re still struggling with other inequalities that plague our educational system. Many students are held back by deficiencies in energy or intelligence. Their need and desire for a degree is just as real as their more gifted peers, but their abilities may not be up to it. We’ve got to level this playing field.”
One idea gaining some traction is a “handicapping” system along the lines used in golf, bowling and horse racing. “If we can figure out how much of an extra burden to put on those with more ability it would give everyone a fair chance of winning a college degree,” Perez said. “It would be a way of equalizing the pursuit of happiness promised in the Declaration of Independence.”
read more...
http://azconserv1.wordpress.com/2010/08/28/fed-may-introduce-negative-interest-rates/
For those that may never have read this. First published in October 1961.
HARRISON BERGERON
by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/harrison.html
In other news, Perez now demands that every student using a personal computer be blindfolded, and that every student taking physical education do so from a wheelchair.
John does write satire, but this is just a fraction away from reality.
Department of Ed Lays Down Law on Kindle E-Reader Usage
By Dian Schaffhauser 06/29/10
You know what? It really isn't a joke at all. Degrees and certifications are handicapped in the name of meeting individual needs, equalizing opportunity for various groups, teaching in a foreign language, etc. College and job opportunities are handicapped so that minorities have preference. It's just written in a way that points out the absurdity of it all.
Using Kindles instead of textbooks is a stupid idea. Half of them would be broken by the end of the first year because of mishandling and being crammed in backpacks, etc.
The satire was an amusing end to a great Saturday. I do agree that it was hard to detect that it was fantasy.
I wonder how many took it as real and emailing their friends that Zer0 is taking away the Kindle because of the Americans with Disabilities Act’s equal access rules. Your link puts a factual light on the subject.
When such devices have speech recognition capability and can read back the text, it will be a great innovation for us all (I admit I am not aware that such a device exists).
Oh, I missed that, thanks.
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