HP Prime vs TI-84 Plus CE for Jr. High and High School

[DrD]

(07-07-2018 08:22 AM)JDW Wrote:  But again, my question centers on EASE OF USE for Jr. High and High School students.

America is concerned about tariff wars causing difficulties with foreign product supply chains. One thing, often cited, is that Americans aren't smart enough to compete, intellectually, with our other world brotheren. This is a problem because we then have to 'import' intellectual capacity, (at reduced labor cost), in order for our technology-based world leadership to thrive. So maybe you should consider the hp prime, "EASE OF USE for Jr. High and High School students," from the opposite perspective:

"Is your Jr. High and High School student, able to function with an easy to use foreign product such as the prime, or TI-83 / 84?" It requires some investment in time to ascend the learning curve, and many American Jr. High and High School students, perceive that they don't have the time, and don't see the need to learn anything beyond that which doesn't provide immediate return value.

Do you want your Jr. High and High School student to be smarter, or just 'get by' with the flavor of the day? Let's face it, Jr. High, and High School wasn't really that hard, looking back on it. It took only four years to complete high school, if one barely tried. Then came the rest of life, where competing for a satisfactory career, based on using the acquired knowledge, skills, and abilities, was the trade off for the pursuit of excellence, (or) reliance on anarchy, and whatever other American "values" they might want to 'identify' with.

American students don't get a good education these days. They only get a minimum education. Jr. High and High School students, need opportunity, encouragement, and good parenting, if they are to have any reasonable expectation of being able to successfully navigate ALL of life's challenges. Only buy the prime for your student, IF you want it to be part of a bigger, interactive, investment in the success of your child. Otherwise, there will be plenty of time for life's cavalcade of crap to direct their journey downhill, as the 'get by' student jumps from one life dilemma to another. Your student is already lucky, in that you are an engineer, and inherently know these things. So if you are able to parent your child using the best tools available, payback will be returned when you reach the golden years, and your student has love, respect, and the ability to look back on their own years with a feeling of pride for your "mutual" investment in them at this point in time!