AUBURN — The iPad is a wonderful piece of technology, fun and educational for all ages. Almost everyone at a city budget workshop Thursday night agreed.

Whether kindergarten students require them was another matter.

“Kids can’t keep track of their mittens or their school books,” Councilor Belinda Gerry said. “And you want them to have iPads? I’m at a loss. I’m at a total loss.”

Gerry’s remarks launched a lively discussion among School Committee members and city councilors about the joys and pains of the iPad tablet computer.

Some could not say enough good things about the gadgets and how useful they might be in the hands of young students.

“It’s an unbelievably successful device for engaging students — for engaging children,” School Committee member Thomas Kendall said. “It’s absolutely going to revolutionize education. It’s a game-changer.”

Some, like School Committee member Bonnie Hayes, described themselves as technologically impaired. Yet Hayes and Connie Mercier, also of the School Committee, got a chance to use an iPad just the night before. The learning curve, they reported, was almost nothing. Even more: It was fun.

“It was amazing what you can do with it,” Hayes said.

“If this is going to help one child complete their education,” Mercier said, “I’m all for this.”

That was the business side of her opinion. On a more personal level, Mercier was almost rapturous.

“I want one,” she said of the popular iPad tablets. “It’s not too late. I’m 68 years old. I want an iPad.”

Others were understandably wary. At approximately $500 apiece, providing an iPad 2 to each kindergarten student and teacher in the school system would cost roughly $200,000. It’s not yet clear where that money will come from and some city leaders are not convinced the iPad 2 is the panacea for learning that some have described.

“Let a kid learn with a pencil and a pen,” City Councilor Dan Herrick said, “before you try to get them into this technology. It’s unaffordable.”