technology
School Districts Resist Parent Efforts to Limit Classroom Technology Use
Parents in multiple states are lobbying schools to reduce screen time and allow opt-outs from device-based learning, citing concerns over distraction, addiction and impacts on focus. At least four states have passed laws limiting screen time while others consider measures. One Pennsylvania district is updating its technology policy and has ruled out opt-outs for students.
May 14, 4:46 AM·3m read4 sources
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Parents across the country have raised concerns about excessive screen time in schools and are pressing districts to rely more on pencils and paper for instruction. In Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, more than 600 residents signed a petition seeking to preserve parents' ability to opt their children out of using digital devices during the school day.
The public school district has said it is not feasible to allow hundreds of students to opt out of technology described as essential to the curriculum. At a school board meeting, members stated they were considering multiple ways to address parental concerns about technology but that allowing opt-outs was not among them.
One board member said there is not an option for the district to operate without technology in schools. ” Several parents said they support teaching responsible computer use but do not want technology to dominate every aspect of classroom instruction.
One parent told the board that teaching how to use technology differs from using it to teach every subject. Another described ongoing battles with a child over screen addiction, saying the school laptop provided access to video streaming even when home devices were restricted.
Parents also questioned the design of certain educational software. One said the math program her second-grade daughter uses rewards rapid completion over methodical problem-solving. The debate has spread beyond the district. At least 14 states have proposed legislation to limit screen time in schools.
Four states — Alabama, Tennessee, Utah and Iowa — have passed such laws. One large school system said it will ban screens until second grade, set daily caps by grade level, block access to a major video platform and review all education technology contracts.
Proposed legislation in another state would let both parents and teachers decline to use classroom technology. The Lower Merion district said it has responded to community input by blocking websites identified as problematic by parents. The superintendent wrote in a letter that teachers in the district have prioritized human interaction and relationships.
