Key Takeaways:
- Parents in the Los Angeles Unified School District are pushing back against the mandatory screen time in classrooms, citing concerns about the impact on their children’s mental and physical health.
- The district provides students with personal devices, such as iPads and Chromebooks, which are used for educational software and online assignments.
- Parents report that their children are spending excessive amounts of time on screens, leading to issues such as addiction, decreased attention span, and decreased academic performance.
- The district claims that students spend less than two hours a day on screens, but parents argue that this is not accurate and that the use of devices is not being effectively monitored.
- A parent coalition, Schools Beyond Screens, is organizing to demand changes to the district’s approach to screen time and technology in the classroom.
Introduction to the Issue
The Los Angeles Unified School District, one of the largest in the country, is facing a growing backlash from parents who are concerned about the amount of time their children are spending on screens in the classroom. The district provides students with personal devices, such as iPads and Chromebooks, which are used for educational software and online assignments. However, parents are reporting that their children are spending excessive amounts of time on screens, leading to issues such as addiction, decreased attention span, and decreased academic performance. Lila Byock, a parent who started the coalition Schools Beyond Screens, reported that her son’s grades began to slip when he started using the school-issued iPad, and that he would often use it to watch YouTube and play video games instead of doing his schoolwork.
The District’s Approach to Technology
The Los Angeles Unified School District has been at the forefront of incorporating technology into the classroom, with a billion-dollar initiative to provide students with personal devices starting in 2014. The district claims that this approach has helped to close the digital divide and provide students with the skills they need to succeed in a technology-driven world. However, parents argue that the district’s approach is misguided and that the use of devices is not being effectively monitored. The district uses monitoring software, such as GoGuardian, to track how students are using their devices, but parents report that students are finding ways to bypass these controls and access unauthorized content.
Concerns About Screen Time
Parents are concerned about the impact of excessive screen time on their children’s mental and physical health. Some report that their children are experiencing addiction-like symptoms, such as irritability and anxiety, when they are not able to use their devices. Others report that their children are experiencing physical symptoms, such as headaches and eye strain, due to prolonged screen use. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children aged 2-5 years old limit their screen time to one hour per day, and that children aged 6 and older have consistent limits on screen time, making sure that it does not interfere with physical activity, sleep, and other activities. However, parents in the Los Angeles Unified School District report that their children are often spending much more time than this on screens, both in and out of the classroom.
The Role of Educational Software
The district uses educational software, such as i-Ready, to provide students with interactive math and reading assignments. However, parents report that this software is often used as a substitute for traditional teaching methods, and that students are spending too much time on it. The software generates new and unique questions for students based on their histories and user profiles using an algorithm, but parents and teachers are unable to see what children are asked, in part because the company that makes the program considers them proprietary information. This lack of transparency has led to concerns about the effectiveness of the software and the potential for bias in the questions being asked.
Parental Pushback
Parents in the Los Angeles Unified School District are pushing back against the mandatory screen time in classrooms, citing concerns about the impact on their children’s mental and physical health. The coalition Schools Beyond Screens, led by Lila Byock, is organizing to demand changes to the district’s approach to screen time and technology in the classroom. The coalition has chapters at 20 area schools and is working to raise awareness about the issue and to pressure the district to make changes. Parents are also opting their children out of certain programs, such as i-Ready, and are working with teachers to find alternative approaches to education that do not rely so heavily on screens.
District Response
The district has responded to parental concerns by holding listening sessions and creating a committee to consider feedback on education technology. However, parents argue that these efforts are not enough and that the district needs to take concrete steps to change how devices are used in classes. The district’s deputy superintendent for instruction, Karla Estrada, said that the district prioritizes responsible device use and that its strategic use of technology has contributed to recent testing gains. However, parents argue that the district’s approach is misguided and that the use of devices is not being effectively monitored. The district plans to work with schools to ensure they are following guidelines on screen time, but parents are skeptical that this will be enough to address the issue.
Conclusion
The debate over screen time in the classroom is a complex and contentious issue, with parents and educators on both sides of the argument. While some argue that technology is essential for preparing students for the digital age, others argue that excessive screen time is having a negative impact on children’s mental and physical health. The Los Angeles Unified School District’s approach to technology is just one example of the challenges that schools are facing as they try to balance the benefits of technology with the potential risks. As the district moves forward, it will be important for parents, educators, and administrators to work together to find a solution that prioritizes the well-being and education of all students.