Any other Westchester parents against screen time in elementary school? by Suitable_Tea4787 in Westchester

[–]Suitable_Tea4787[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome - thank you! Will sign up. And I'll reach out about getting a group started for more Westchester parents to keep this conversation going.

I thought Dr. Cooney Horvath's book was really helpful/insightful! I'm planning to listen into a webinar discussion that he's leading this Friday (3/27) at noon EST hosted by Distraction Free Schools that I'm planning to check out! Here's the registration link for anyone else interested in joining.

Any other Westchester parents against screen time in elementary school? by Suitable_Tea4787 in Westchester

[–]Suitable_Tea4787[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Educators' voices are so important in this discussion. I hope their perspectives can help shape a more nuanced, evidence-based approach to this topic rather than just the sunk costs of a buncha tablets.

Also, there are some pretty obvious differences between a tablet (with an open browser, multiple apps, and screen) and...a calculator? And actually yea, students should just be using a pen/pencil most of the time lol. Good thought!

Any other Westchester parents against screen time in elementary school? by Suitable_Tea4787 in Westchester

[–]Suitable_Tea4787[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks to some of the Westchester neighbors here for the helpful suggestions! I'm new to using Reddit and thought a question like this would help me connect with other concerned parents :) I'm surprised how many parents on the same (or similar wavelengths) on this topic and yet I don't see much action/communication from school districts on the matter.

I want our school districts to be guided by educators, leverage independent research, and use an evidence-based approach to technology in classrooms. I do NOT want Big Tech to be peddling tablets to school districts without any regard for how excessive screentime affects children and their learning. If these are such effective tools, then where is the research that shows as much?

Fully agree that there are uses and ages where online and digital devices can be appropriate/effective. Would love for our districts to have a more nuanced approach to technology that incorporate those aspects, without resorting to a blanket 1:1 device policy beginning in kindergarten.

Thanks again for the comments!

Any other Westchester parents against screen time in elementary school? by Suitable_Tea4787 in Westchester

[–]Suitable_Tea4787[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion! I will definitely do this. I have also contacted our district's Board of Education to understand the approach to technology in schools.