Well-meaning but probably fiscally irresponsible Michigan Democrats outlined a plan recently to equip every school child in the state with an MP3 player. Yay! An iPod in every grubby hand! Just what kids need for a good education, wouldn't you say? Not that I live in Michigan, but if I did, would I be thrilled? Well, there's something to be said for a marginally "free" electronic device; after all, according to my eleven-year old, "everybody" but him owns one (so deprived, that kid), but exactly how is an iPod, well, educational? Okay, you could make Sufjan Stevens required listening, or even go out on a limb with Brahms and Beethoven not to mention Philip Glass, but does Michigan really want all its kids walking around all plugged in with earphones leaking out of their ears? And at taxpayers' expense?
Sorry, kids, no iPods this year, I'm afraid. This one's gonna be hard to get passed.
