People live in a different reality:
At Klara’s school, they have two days a year when they are allowed to bring technology and use it without WiFi. Other than that, it would be scandalous if anybody even tried. Students are also not allowed on the premises unless they are dressed modestly.
These horror stories people tell about kindergartners massively on iPads don’t even sound true. How do they all have iPads? How do parents allow them to be brought to school? It all sounds invented.
There are public school systems that distribute one device (laptop or tablet) to each student starting in kindergarten (many of these program started during Covid). Some of these programs are now re-evaluating this approach and are planning to get rid of the devices at least in the lower elementary classes. Interestingly, the reason some of these programs are being re-evaluated is the cost issue, not the fact that they are bad for students. In any case, moving away from devices is a positive thing…
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There are parents and teachers pushing to get rid of the devices because they aren’t good for the kids. It’s not just cost.
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In the situation I am familiar with, the program is ending because of the finances. There is actually some significant push back from teachers (their curriculum is too dependent on devices at this point) as well as from parents. Some do feel that education without devices is better, but it is not a universal opinion. Personally, the day my child’s school starts giving kids devices or requiring kids to bring their own is the day I am withdrawing my child from there.
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The biggest anti-screen action I heard about in the news came from parents. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/education/los-angeles-school-district-require-screen-time-limits-rcna332173
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This is heavily class-skewed. The more affluent the parents, the more likely they are to want school without screens.
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Teachers love tech in the classroom because it means they don’t have to actually teach. The biggest slackers at my job LOVE showing videos in class. They snooze in the corner while students stare at a screen in a darkened room. What’s not to like?
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There are schools in my county that provide ipads to elementary students. They graduate to chromebooks in… 4th grade?
reason #1,680 we are homeschooling…
ethyl
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Scotland but relevant:
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/education/schools/5452045/fife-school-ipads-50m-cost/
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“Those behind the Fife school iPads say they are “transformational” and it has already changed how classrooms work.”
(from the article)
I love how even the people responsible for introducing the devices… won’t commit to saying they’re a good thing.
But of course in neoliberalese “change” and “transformation” are automatically good? Do they even acknowledge the possibility of change for the worse?
ethyl
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Exactly. Change actually translates as “something good and should always be pursued at any cost.” They go all read in the face and start spluttering if you question this dogma. Change is their Jesus. It promises them life everlasting. Why do they need life everlasting? To pursue more change, of course.
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The only thing worse than devices in elementary schools is AI in elementary schools. You know that it is coming/already here for some: https://www.forbes.com/sites/heatherwishartsmith/2026/05/20/from-ai-policies-to-ai-literacy-in-education/
Interestingly, Snow White, who works at Intel, leads the efforts to put AI into K-12 …
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“digital citizenship”. Truly, you can’t despise these people enough.
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A conservative literary critic and college professor
Clarissa's Blog 
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