Banning Laptops in College

Apparently the AP has reported on trend of college professors banning the use of laptops in class. I've got some mixed feelings on this issue. On the one hand, it is the teacher's classroom and he has the authority to teach it as he pleases. But Engadget makes a couple good points.

First of all, most teachers are citing the reason that without laptops more students will pay attention. It is also the case that if teachers would take the time to be creative not only would more people pay attention, but everyone would learn more, including those who were paying attention before. I know that won't make everyone pay attention, but anyone that cares it will.

Which leads to our next point. I'm paying a pretty penny next year to go to college. I also payed a pretty penny for the MacBook Pro I'm blogging on at this moment. I use my computer for all of my class notes. I'm paying to have teachers teach me about what I choose. I should also be allowed to choose how I recieve, process, and store the information I'm paying to recieve. You don't buy groceries just to be told when and how to eat what you buy. I'm paying to be given information. If and how I choose to assimilate this information should be up to me, as I will be the one dealing with the concequences.