Maine Middle School Teacher Testified Before Legislature in Favor of iBook Program Expansion to High School

The testimony of Ernie Easter was published here. Mr. Easter is a 7th and 8th grade teacher in New Sweden, Maine. His summary is:

"I could talk all day about my students and their work and accomplishments with the laptops, for these laptops are truly integrated into my daily teaching and the curriculum. But the focus of this hearing is on moving the laptop project into Maine high schools. So, why do I think bringing the MLTI into the high schools is so important that I took - and my superintendent approved without hesitation - a personal day to be here? Because this is important. For New Sweden; for Aroostook County; for Maine. And because I hate to think that these 8th grade students - not just mine, but those of my colleagues as well - might be working without the tools to which they have become accustomed: a fast processor, current software, and up-to-date information all at their fingertips. It would be like asking you or me in those days gone by to have been in school without books, pens, ditto masters (remember that smell?) or filmstrip projectors!"