SEND TO your child’s school principal

Dear [Principal Name],


I am the parent of [your child’s name], and I am seeking your support for District 97 to re-evaluate screen use, misuse, and overuse in our schools. Since I joined Screen Sense Oak Park, I have been pleased to hear about all the changes D97 is planning for next school year, but I know there is more we can do to keep our children safe. I have also been excited to hear that two of our elementary schools—Irving and Mann—are implementing changes in their buildings. How can I help [your child’s school] take similar action?

Teachers have expressed several needs to Screen Sense OP related to technology in the classroom. This ranges from support to become more tech savvy than their students and effectively manage screen addiction/misuse in their classrooms, to better training using existing digital learning platforms before rolling out new ones. They also have reported the need for physical classroom items: cabinets to stow screens out of sight, and to charge all devices at school (many devices are sent home because grades 3-8 do not have charging capabilities at school). Our teachers need policies that support keeping personal electronic devices stowed away from bell to bell, since parents are sending children with smartphones and unlocked smartwatches even in elementary school.

It is essential that we implement best practices for tech usage, not only at home, but also at school. As parents, the responsibility of teaching our children healthy digital habits rests on us. Since children spend 7 hours per day at school, digital health must also be a focus in the classroom as well. In the current digital age, I recognize that technology is integrated in and integral to everyday life, and I support the thoughtful, intentional use of technology in the classroom for our older grades. 

In that spirit, please consider implementing some of the changes listed below. Many of these are slated for implementation throughout the district next school year, but now is a great time to make strong statement about educational priorities in your building.

  • use tablets and apps solely for educational/curricular objectives

  • set and adhere to daily screen-time limits for each course subject

  • prioritize pen and paper-based work and use of BOOKS over digital curricular work, as well as other forms of tactile real world learning

  • implement a screen-free policy for free-time, indoor recess, and PBIS rewards

  • refrain from allowing non-curricular apps (like Prodigy and Epic) or “educational” games (like Gimkit, Blooket and CoolMathGames)

  • utilize a lab-based model for tech devices in which devices are stored away in a designated area and are only accessed by students during specified curricular times for specific tasks. Students should not have open access to devices

  • limit non-educational movies or videos in the classroom to be a rare group activity reserved for special occasions (not on personal devices)

  • share a clear tech-usage policy with your students so they know how to stay on task and what apps, platforms and programs are permitted when using their devices for classroom schoolwork (and which ones aren’t)

  • keep school-issued devices in the classroom unless parents request for devices to be brought home

  • create policies that support teachers/schools with bell-to-bell bans on personal device use, now problematic even in elementary years

  • communicate expectations and policies more clearly with parents, and share with them how to use resources to help monitor student tech usage (like Securly or iPad settings) and promote transparency in how much screen time is allowed per subject per day in D97 classrooms

  • implement curriculum to promote skills for healthy tech use habits

I recognize that administrators have a lot on their plates these days. And I do not wish to add to that burden. I do hope I can support the work you do in your building.  I am committed to ensuring our children learn skills that foster digital health and benefit from tech usage while mitigating the harms of overuse. If there are ways that I can help, please let me know. If you would like to discuss any ideas further, I would love to be a part of the conversation and the solution.


Respectfully,

[your name]