As the seniors are counting down to the most exciting and emotional period of their high school careers, there is plenty to think about going forward. College, the upcoming summer, and possible careers are all on our minds. One other thought that has arisen recently is the question as to whether seniors get to keep their iPads after graduation.

To many, this seems like a nice option. After all, we have used these iPads for all of our time at MHS. They have been useful in many ways and have proven to be successful across the school district. However, the quick appeal of free iPads might start to wear off once we consider some more details.

At this point, our second-generation iPads are not worth much. Many of them are pretty worn out with failing batteries, broken screens, and audio issues. For a lot of students, the iPads are starting to become somewhat obsolete when compared to the new personal tablets and laptops that many people use instead. In college, the iPads will almost certainly be less integrated into lessons than at MHS, meaning that they will most likely be more of a distraction than a learning tool.

Another thing that’s important to consider is the possible value to the school district if the school was to keep the iPads. With such a large number of devices, the school could probably get them refurbished and re-used or sold at a reasonable cost. Donating the iPads to stRUT or another electronics recycling organization would also be a reasonable option. Allowing the school to do this with a large scale and uniform decision would maximize impact towards people in need.

One last thing to remember as we consider the future of our iPads is how fortunate we are to have had them. Whether or not you agree with their usefulness, the iPads do represent our school’s intention to help us learn in the best way possible. The resources that freely given to us are often taken for granted. Whatever happens with our iPads is almost irrelevant. The incredibly fortunate opportunity we’ve had to get educated at a wonderful high school is the true effect of these programs and will last much longer than one piece of Apple technology.