homework

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

I suspect strongly that there was a bit of procrastination going on here.

 

[LdiJ]

if he has a phone line, he has access and you can buy a printer for $40.

Since when does a phone line guarantee internet access?

 

[justalayman]

Since when does a phone line guarantee internet access?

I don't know of any ISP that cannot be accessed from other locations other than the primary installation. The internet is not on your computer, you are merely accessing it with your computer. As long as you have a way of reaching your ISP server, you are online.

Not saying it does not require additional hardware (telephony modem which is not included in all modern computers anymore) but if you have a phone line, you can get on the internet

you can even get free internet service even if you do not have any other ISP via telephone line:

http://www.netzero.net/start/landing.do?page=www/free/index

 

[LdiJ]

and child was not doing assignment friday afternoon through saturday at ten-why?

Dad must have a public library, just as you do. Also I find it hard to believe a school would make computer work mandatory over the weekend, when there is a strong possibility a student will not have easy access to a computer. If a school makes internet research mandatory during non school time-they better be giving my kid a free laptop

If it were me, and dad really did have No way to access (no library-and your computer is a large desktop, and not portable for example) I would be emailing the teacher and explaining that my child is visiting their father out of town, with no computer access.

As to second question, if kids are old enough to be home alone, than sure, why not?

Believe it or not, many schools/teachers have unrealistic expectations of children's access to the internet. Particularly middle school and up. Its actually a pet peeve of mine.

Access to the internet isn't the only thing either. When my daughter was in high school (and she is 22 now) access to Microsoft Excel was absolutely mandatory. I didn't have Excel...I was a Lotus 123'er. I had to purchase Microsoft Office so that my daughter could do her homework. Yes, I got to buy the 150.00 student version rather than the 350.00 non student version, but it ticked me off nonetheless.

On top of that, even with a laptop its no guarantee of internet access if the ncp doesn't have internet access...and of course if the ncp doesn't have internet access then the ncp needs to be willing to transport the child to the library or wherever else is necessary to have internet access.

Again...pet peeve, on my soapbox...if internet access is necessary to complete an assignment or specific software is necessary to complete an assignment then that access and software should be provided to the child during the school day AT school.

A student should not be penalized because their parent(s) are unable to provide access/software.

 

[ecmst12]

If it was now LD, you could get Open Office which is free and so close to MS Office that I'm sure the teacher would have accepted it.

 

[Knowalot]

Has anyone asked dad how he wants to handle homework on his weekends, maybe pick her up Sat after she is finished or help her complete at his house as he determines is appropriate? Seems like this is going to be an ongoing problem if homework is given over the weekend and she is with dad some of them. Might be good for everyone to find a solution now rather than have continuing problems.

 

[haiku]

A student should not be penalized because their parent(s) are unable to provide access/software.

I hope you were agreeing with me, because you basically were saying what I was saying! LOL

neither dad nor the kid should be penalized for not having access to a computer. My husband traveled to a campground when the weather was good where his kids live, I think he would have been pretty peeved to have been denied time with his kiddos because the camp had no wi-fi....never mind kids getting a bad grade because the internet was on the fritz or something...

 

[LdiJ]

I hope you were agreeing with me, because you basically were saying what I was saying! LOL

neither dad nor the kid should be penalized for not having access to a computer. My husband traveled to a campground when the weather was good where his kids live, I think he would have been pretty peeved to have been denied time with his kiddos because the camp had no wi-fi....never mind kids getting a bad grade because the internet was on the fritz or something...

I wasn't disagreeing with you...I was mostly airing my own pet peeves on the subject.

 

[CJane]

never mind kids getting a bad grade because the internet was on the fritz or something...

And boy does THAT happen! I have (normally) excellent wi-fi at home, and am a TERRIBLE procrastinator... one night, I had a quiz due at 7:30. So at 7, I sat down to take the quiz, and had NO internet connection. Had to go across the street and sit on the steps of the library to do my homework.

In January. Temp 5*. Sucked.

I was hating it and I KNOW (since I'm an online student) I need internet access.

 

[justalayman]

And boy does THAT happen! I have (normally) excellent wi-fi at home, and am a TERRIBLE procrastinator... one night, I had a quiz due at 7:30. So at 7, I sat down to take the quiz, and had NO internet connection. Had to go across the street and sit on the steps of the library to do my homework.

In January. Temp 5*. Sucked.

I was hating it and I KNOW (since I'm an online student) I need internet access.

cjane. whose connection (ISP) were you using?


That is another method that OP might be able to use (with a WIFI equipped laptop anyway) even without a phone or if close enough like you, a desktop and a wireless router if there is free WIFI service that close.

if nothing else, she could go to mickey D's (or usually hundreds of other nodes in a decent sized city) and use their WIFI connection with a WIFI capable laptop, many for free or a small fee (McD's is $3/hour in my town)

 

[CJane]

cjane. whose connection (ISP) were you using?


That is another method that OP might be able to use (with a WIFI equipped laptop anyway) even without a phone or if close enough like you, a desktop and a wireless router if there is free WIFI service that close.

if nothing else, she could go to mickey D's (or usually hundreds of other nodes in a decent sized city) and use their WIFI connection with a WIFI capable laptop, many for free or a small fee (McD's is $3/hour in my town)

MY Wi-Fi was down, so I was using the library's. I can actually get their connection most times in my living room, but not with any reliable speed and I do so love my streaming netflix.

Anyway, yes, with a $400 laptop from Walmart (which is what I've used with nary a problem for over a year), you can get online at any hotspot there is.

However, I suspect the issue isn't really lack of internet service OR lack of computer, but lack of preparation.

 

[justalayman]

.

However, I suspect the issue isn't really lack of internet service OR lack of computer, but lack of preparation.

Either that or mom is intentionally trying to cut dads time short and being the good natured person I am, I wanted to think it was not that.

 

[justalayman]

MY Wi-Fi was down.

did you mean your internet service itself was down because if you were simply having problems with WIFI, you can always plug your computer in with a cord, right? or do you not have an ethernet networking card in your computer?


please tell me it was your entire service or you cannot actually physically hook up your machine. I would hate to see you 2 seconds after reading this and whacking your forehead going "dang, why didn't I think of that and it was damn cold out there too!!"

 

[CJane]

did you mean your internet service itself was down because if you were simply having problems with WIFI, you can always plug your computer in with a cord, right? or do you not have an ethernet networking card in your computer?


please tell me it was your entire service or you cannot actually physically hook up your machine. I would hate to see you 2 seconds after reading this and whacking your forehead going "dang, why didn't I think of that and it was damn cold out there too!!"

Oh! No. My DSL was down. Nothing was working at all.

 

[frylover]

I just wanted to comment on two things mentioned in this thread....

My school went cheap-o on us this year and the teachers (but NOT the office staff, of course) are stuck with Open Office. I LOATHE it to the point that I lug my laptop to work with me and hook it up to my printer so that I can use MS Office!

Some schools, by middle school level, take the attitude that if a student doesn't have internet access at home, they'd better find someplace that they do have access to it.