America’s public schools once pushed to give every child laptops and tablets, based on the belief that technology is the future. Many classrooms now have extensive screen use, leading parents, teachers, and districts to call for reduced device access. A Los Angeles middle school teacher prefers pen-and-paper work but still must use laptops and online apps for required tasks. The Los Angeles Unified School District adopted a screen time policy that stops device distribution to the youngest students and sets limits for higher grades. The policy blocks YouTube, bans device use during lunch and recess for elementary and middle school, and includes audits of education technology contracts.
"“The idea was that technology is the future, so we need to put tech in every child's hands.”"
"“The Chromebook is just a world of distraction,” says Soffer, who teaches sixth-grade English and history. She favors pen-and-paper assignments but is required to use laptops and online apps for certain activities. “Every day, I'm battling, 'Who would you rather listen to, Ms. Soffer or Minecraft?'”"
"A sweeping resolution passed last month by the Los Angeles school board requires the district to eliminate devices until second grade; set daily and weekly screen limits for all higher grades; block YouTube on school devices; and ban the use of devices at lunch and recess in elementary and middle school. The district will also audit its education technology contracts, which the teachers' union says amount to $1.6 billion."
#education-technology #screen-time-policy #school-devices #digital-distraction #public-education-reform
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