Parents Request Pen-and-Paper Over School Laptops
Parents across the United States are increasingly voicing their concerns about excessive screen time in schools. Amid a growing reliance on technology in education, many are requesting alternatives to school-issued laptops.
Parents Request Pen-and-Paper Over School Laptops
In Montgomery County, Maryland, the Council of Parent-Teacher Associations is advocating for a formal process. They want schools to allow families to request “non-screen alternatives” for their children. This initiative targets parents who are actively seeking to limit screen exposure for their kids.
Advocacy for Change
Lisa Cline, a Montgomery County mother and former chair of a technology-focused advisory committee, has firsthand experience with this issue. She opted her son out of screen use starting in third grade. Cline’s goal is to partner with the organization Fairplay for Kids to promote a national campaign. This campaign encourages parents to seek alternatives to school-issued devices, ideally flipping the current default from “opting out” to “opting in.”
Refusal of Consent in California
In Fullerton, California, Nicki Petrossi faced obstacles when she refused to consent to her children using school laptops. In 2024, the school district informed her that opting out was not legally permissible, stating that state rules mandate computer use. However, Petrossi was determined to provide her children with an analog education.
Teacher Feedback and Safety Concerns
Petrossi’s concerns stem partly from discussions with various teachers nationwide. These educators shared issues they face with digital devices in classrooms during her podcast, “Scrolling 2 Death.” She also cited worries about cybersecurity risks linked to educational software. As a result, Petrossi transferred her children to a low-tech charter school that emphasizes classical education.
Supporting Parents Through Organizations
To further aid parents, Petrossi co-founded the Tech-Safe Learning Coalition. This coalition provides templates for parents to communicate with their school districts about limiting technology use. The aim is to empower parents with more resources for meaningful discussions with educators.
The increasing demand for pen-and-paper learning highlights a significant shift in priority among parents. As the conversation around technology in education continues, the push for non-digital learning methods could reshape how schools approach teaching in the future.
