Limit student screen time in Philly schools, readers say
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It's time to address student screen time in Philly schools, dozens of Axios Philadelphia readers say.
By the numbers: 90% of the 30 people who responded to our unofficial poll say Philly educators should reduce student screen time in the classroom.
- Meanwhile, 87% voted that the district should allow parents to access their children's browsing history on school-issued Chromebooks.
Catch up quick: We told you earlier this week that the district does not provide students' browsing history on school-issued Chromebooks — except for emergencies, to resolve tech issues and when requested by law enforcement.
- Student screen time and the content they're accessing during school hours have become a growing issue for parents in the region, including nearby Lower Merion, and across the U.S.
What we're hearing: Here's what some of you are saying:
- Kids are already on screens at home. School should be a time for person-to-person interaction, and kids should be encouraged to socialize without them.
- The money schools currently spend on technology would be better spent on basic supplies.
- Students frequently misuse school laptops for noneducational purposes, partly because tech is designed to be addictive. Parental oversight would help reduce this misuse.
- From 5-years-old, Google has access to our children. We never signed up for this.
💭 Mike's thought bubble: I tested whether I could get my son's internet browsing history (he's only in kindergarten) and discovered firsthand that the district wouldn't provide it.
- The response from the district's Office of Information Security: "It is not District policy to provide this information."