Digital Smarts - School Screen Time Concerns Parents

Efforts by school districts to supply students with computers or tablets are meeting resistance from parents who are concerned about the amount of time their children are spending in front of a screen. Parents have expressed various concerns, including changes in classroom instruction, access to inappropriate online content, and how the use of electronics is weakening student handwriting, eyesight and posture. One of the biggest issues with districts taking steps to distribute digital devices to their student community has been a lack of teacher training on how to make the best use of these devices and take full advantage of what the technology has to offer, rather than using them as a classroom diversion. Schools and parents alike are caught between making sure students are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow and being mindful that life and learning also takes place in places other than in front of a screen.