The Wellesley School Committee is gearing up to propose expanding their 1:1 tablet pilot--we want to know what you think.

Educators say that the students started seeing their iPads more as tools than as toys. Based on the success of the program, officials are considering making iPad rental or purchase a requirement for all incoming 5th graders in the district.

The school district will hold a forum in the coming weeks to discuss the discoveries and possible future of this program on a larger scale on Jan 10, at 7 p.m. in the Library's Wakelin room.

Under this expanded pilot, there would be two options for families: rent to own and enroll an existing iPad.

There are some mixed feelings about the pilot in the Patch community. A few users weighed in on the previous story. Blogger Christine Norcross commented,

I think the IPAD is a great learning tool. My kids use their IPADS with different educational tools on it. Why wouldn't it be provided by the district like it is in the Weston School District?

Although not everyone agreed. Said user Vineyard Worker, 

The iPad program does not belong in the schools. Kids are spending too much time on the Internet and not enough time learning how to cooperate and socialize with another human being. Let the parents decide when they wish their child to have an iPad. Put the kids together and have them play games where they win some and lose some and see how they cope.

What do you think? Will this program work, does it need to be refined, or does it not belong in the schools? Take our poll or tell us in the comments.

[Correction: The Jan 16 meeting previously listed on the site is for the Hunnewell PTO, and not a public meeting.  9:11 a.m.]