A loose network of parents are teaching one another how to get their kids off of school-issued Chromebooks and iPads.
While it’s much better than the brain-rotting alternative, this move comes much too late. And I’m not talking about the fact that screens are already everywhere, that’s a totally different topic… but to late for their kids (middle school here…) in particular.
Screens instead of pen, paper and other tools (as well as movement in general) are even more damaging in the earlier years when fine motor control, perception skills and abstract thinking is in full development.
Kids are missing out on all kinds of stuff these days. I was visiting a friend and when he went down to get more drinks from the basement fridge his kid took the opportunity and started unloading his life story. The thing that knocked me out of smile and nod mode was being told about how they essentially exploit the class tablets to install unauthorized apps and use them to chat or play games in class. What ever happened to passing paper notes. damn…
Yeah I heard they chat with Google Docs collaboration. Clever.
