Back to school: With a laptop and a PDA

NEWS With the new school year about to start, alarming research has revealed that the modern school satchel is more likely to include a PDA than a protractor. While one third of teenage boys don't know what a geometry set is, most now include a mobile phone when they are packing their bags in the morning. In fact, the average teenager takes at least two high-tech gadgets, worth more than £160, with them to school each day. These tech toys include mobile phones, personal CD players, PDAs and even laptops in a number of cases. In terms of popularity, the mobile phone is king - topping a list of satchel fillers, ahead of old school favourites the pencil case, PE kit and lunchbox. Even PDAs and laptops break into the top ten - though they are a far bigger hit with the girls. When asked which status symbols are regarded as 'must have' items teenagers almost all aspired to the high-tech. Designer clothes were the only kudos-grabbing, non-tech item among a top five which consisted of mobile phone, CD player, laptop, designer clothes and PDA. At home the pattern is much the same. While 70 per cent of teenagers have an internet-enabled PC at home, older learning aids are going the way of the Dodo, with only 20 per cent of teenagers admitting to having a dictionary or encyclopaedia in the home. The research, which was conducted by Telewest, will be a cause for concern among parents and teachers alike. While parents will already have grown tired of being harassed to fork out for these high-tech toys, teachers will fear more serious problems resulting from such items being brought into school. Traditional targets for classroom thieves - such as conkers, football stickers and sweets - are a far cry from the tempting items carried in school bags these days. And the problems don't stop at the school gates. Research released earlier this year by the Home Office showed that children are five times more likely than adults to be robbed of their mobile phones - with thieves loitering outside schools in the knowledge it will be rich and easy pickings.