I have said this many times in this forum — laptops paid for by taxpayers and given to middle and high school students is a bad idea. Now there is evidence.

According a a news report by a Maine television station, many of the 60,000 laptops taxpayers paid for may be being used to look at and pass on pornography, plus steal copyrighted music and films, on the taxpayers’ dime.

Also in the report was an interview with a State Police official that more manpower will be needed for a task force to cope with the ever-growing problem — more expenses paid for by taxpayers. Unbelievable.

The educators who came up with that brainstorm really need a pat on the back. They asked the public to support that idea; many said yes and now it is time to pony up, again.

How about if those folks with that “bright idea” pay for additional policing out of their pockets, or get the computer company to pay for it?

I’m sick and tired of paying for idiotic ideas.

Al Pelletier, Norway

Editor’s note: According to the Maine Department of Education, all public schools have content filters to restrict student access to certain sites during the school day, as required by the Maine Learning Technology Initiative since 2006, but when laptops are taken home parents are responsible for monitoring Internet access.

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