Lost in much of the media reporting on the program was the fact that fundraising efforts were planned to help those families who couldn't afford the computers, attempting to address the most serious potential criticism. And individually owned laptops were not necessary in order to participate in the innovative computer learning curriculum developed by the Jordan staff because classroom computers would be available.

But a combination of poor communications between the district, school and parents and a failure to anticipate a variety of legitimate concerns has now appropriately halted the computer purchase part of the program.

The Middle School Technology Initiative, as it is called, is an ambitious pilot project that was first introduced to two sixth-grade classes (50 families) last school year at Jordan. Every student was provided, at no cost to the families, an Apple iBook for use both at home and at school over a 12-week period.

Students used the computers for almost all their assignments and tests, and the evaluation from teachers, parents and students was favorable. All groups said they felt the laptops helped the students become better organized, more motivated and more able to access computer-based resources.

Based on the apparent success of the first pilot year, the school was given the go-ahead to expand the program to all incoming sixth graders at Jordan, but on an optional basis. Teachers were trained in the program and all was ready when the school sent a letter out to parents Oct. 12 that instantly created controversy.

The letter failed to explain how students might be disadvantaged if they didn't buy the recommended iBook, or how the laptops would integrate into the program if not all students had one. Nor did the letter make any mention of financial assistance. In short, it was an insensitive and poorly thought out way to communicate a major curriculum initiative to parents.

But there are other concerns as well, about which communication also has been poor.

With the Jordan program planning on raising money from the parent community to fund "scholarship" computer purchases, does that not create potential disparity with JLS Middle School and the new Terman Middle School?

Are JLS and Terman being provided equal opportunities for integrating technology into the curriculum?

Financial needs aside, what about Palo Alto families who already own ample computers, including laptops, and who have no interest in owning an iBook?

Should sixth graders be expected to transport and care for an expensive computer that can easily be stolen -- when some have trouble enough keeping track of the their skateboards or backbacks?

And perhaps most importantly, how does anyone believe that those sixth graders who buy the computers won't stand out from those who don't?

Jordan proponents of the technology initiative say they feel burned by the school district, which has now stepped in, put the laptop purchase program on hold and established a committee to sort out the whole mess.

Regardless of when and by whom the brakes should have been applied, the issues over the laptop-ownership part of this program have not been adequately considered. We applaud the technology initiative and agree there is great potential for exposing middle-school students to a more integrated computer-based learning program. It's fabulous that Jordan teachers are excited about the project.

But asking every sixth-grade family to consider purchasing a $2,000 computer isn't right, even if you call it "optional."

In a community already justifiably concerned about the potential disparity between the fundraising abilities of different schools, an exciting and worthwhile technology initiative should be district funded, not left up to the fundraising abilities of parents at a single school.