Opt Out of Computer Use

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just put a note in their file that says No computer use. Tell your kid to refuse all assignments on a computer. We did that it was fine.

How does this work as your child gets older? I think they would miss out on a LOT of the work. My middle schooler's teachers put their syllabi and notes online, they communicate via Schoology. It would be so much extra work for a teacher to have to duplicate all of that on paper. I don't even know how they'd get a message to a child who doesn't have a computer - my middle schooler just scheduled a test retake via email, and the hall busses and bathroom basses are all electronic.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what is going on with autocorrect - that should say passes not busses/basses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just put a note in their file that says No computer use. Tell your kid to refuse all assignments on a computer. We did that it was fine.

Ha, good luck with that. I'm sure your child will love being the only kid in the class who can't have a computer. Who has to do something different every time they assign some activity or watch some educational YouTube video.

They prefer it, more 1:1 time.

Oh so you're the a-h0le taking time away from my child because yours is too special for a computer? Thanks a lot nastygram.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's really hard (maybe impossible) to find a school, public or private, that truly has zero computer use. They all do little presentations or type their essays. Standardized tests are almost all on computers now, no more scantron. But that doesn't mean they are using AI.

There are a couple that are virtually zero computer use. Our parochial school uses the classical model and in elementary school only uses the computers for the standardized testing they're required to do. Middle school is almost entirely paper-based, although I believe they do type their essays and do a very limited amount of research using internet databases. I'm very anti-EdTech, but I appreciate the use of the computers for standardized testing because unfortunately the SAT is computer-based now and my kids will have to get used to taking exams like that.

You probably can't find an ideologically middle-of-the-road school that has zero EdTech, so whether you go this route depends on how comfortable you are with religiously conservative schools or Waldorf.

I think you're doing your children a disservice. They will be using technology in college and when they start working - no matter what their field of work is - so it's best to get them comfortable with tech early. My 4th grader is learning how to type because my 7th grader has been complaining how hard it is to do schoolwork when she's such a slow typist.

Research does not support this. Students can still learn technology skills later in their educational careers, and tech use in school should be very intentional and safe to enhance learning. Students can also learn typing by practicing lessons each day, and not being on a computer all day at school.

I am a high school teacher and I am consistently amazed by how bad my current crop of students are with technology (compared to students 10-15 years ago) despite being raised by tablets and educated through chromebooks. They can navigate to Youtube, but technology that might actually be helpful for their future -- digital citizenship/media literacy, Microsoft Suite or even Google platforms (creating and organizing folders, moving files, basic Excel/Sheets skills, formatting, etc.), creating aesthetically appropriate presentations, keyboarding (dear GOD the slow/unwieldy typing drives me nuts)...they suck at it.

Today's kids are learning how to be *consumers* of technology and that's about it.

I think parents expect the schools to be teaching this to their children and they're not. In middle school there is an elective that teaches the bolded, but it should be required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's really hard (maybe impossible) to find a school, public or private, that truly has zero computer use. They all do little presentations or type their essays. Standardized tests are almost all on computers now, no more scantron. But that doesn't mean they are using AI.

There are a couple that are virtually zero computer use. Our parochial school uses the classical model and in elementary school only uses the computers for the standardized testing they're required to do. Middle school is almost entirely paper-based, although I believe they do type their essays and do a very limited amount of research using internet databases. I'm very anti-EdTech, but I appreciate the use of the computers for standardized testing because unfortunately the SAT is computer-based now and my kids will have to get used to taking exams like that.

You probably can't find an ideologically middle-of-the-road school that has zero EdTech, so whether you go this route depends on how comfortable you are with religiously conservative schools or Waldorf.

I think you're doing your children a disservice. They will be using technology in college and when they start working - no matter what their field of work is - so it's best to get them comfortable with tech early. My 4th grader is learning how to type because my 7th grader has been complaining how hard it is to do schoolwork when she's such a slow typist.

PP here. What kinds of jobs are your kids going to be doing? I’m pretty sure there aren’t a lot of jobs where they sit around and use apps designed for children all day. And the apps they use at school don’t teach them how to program a computer, run a spreadsheet, or do serious word processing (involving redlining, citations, etc.).

Furthermore, it used to be that we made sure that kids had a solid foundational understanding before they used technology to complete a task. That’s why they teach math using pencil and paper before they allow students to use calculators. I’m definitely not holding them back from becoming accountants someday by forcing them to do math on paper.

Btw, I have nothing against Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, learning how to code, or using Skype or other programs to practice speaking a foreign language with native speakers. Those things can easily be done at home, and the classical curriculum doesn’t prevent me from supplementing. They’re also going to do plenty of word processing in high school.

Come back in 12-14 years and let’s compare college admissions results. Just know that my kids have a three-generation legacy at one very elite university and a one generation legacy at another.

You just invalidated your entire argument with this stupid comment, LOL! Also, just know that more and more universities are disregarding legacy admissions. Hope yours don't!

[Anonymous]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAZ-fuWdz8M

You'll have to do as the tech executives do and go private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's really hard (maybe impossible) to find a school, public or private, that truly has zero computer use. They all do little presentations or type their essays. Standardized tests are almost all on computers now, no more scantron. But that doesn't mean they are using AI.

There are a couple that are virtually zero computer use. Our parochial school uses the classical model and in elementary school only uses the computers for the standardized testing they're required to do. Middle school is almost entirely paper-based, although I believe they do type their essays and do a very limited amount of research using internet databases. I'm very anti-EdTech, but I appreciate the use of the computers for standardized testing because unfortunately the SAT is computer-based now and my kids will have to get used to taking exams like that.

You probably can't find an ideologically middle-of-the-road school that has zero EdTech, so whether you go this route depends on how comfortable you are with religiously conservative schools or Waldorf.

I think you're doing your children a disservice. They will be using technology in college and when they start working - no matter what their field of work is - so it's best to get them comfortable with tech early. My 4th grader is learning how to type because my 7th grader has been complaining how hard it is to do schoolwork when she's such a slow typist.

PP here. What kinds of jobs are your kids going to be doing? I’m pretty sure there aren’t a lot of jobs where they sit around and use apps designed for children all day. And the apps they use at school don’t teach them how to program a computer, run a spreadsheet, or do serious word processing (involving redlining, citations, etc.).

Furthermore, it used to be that we made sure that kids had a solid foundational understanding before they used technology to complete a task. That’s why they teach math using pencil and paper before they allow students to use calculators. I’m definitely not holding them back from becoming accountants someday by forcing them to do math on paper.

Btw, I have nothing against Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, learning how to code, or using Skype or other programs to practice speaking a foreign language with native speakers. Those things can easily be done at home, and the classical curriculum doesn’t prevent me from supplementing. They’re also going to do plenty of word processing in high school.

Come back in 12-14 years and let’s compare college admissions results. Just know that my kids have a three-generation legacy at one very elite university and a one generation legacy at another.

You just invalidated your entire argument with this stupid comment, LOL! Also, just know that more and more universities are disregarding legacy admissions. Hope yours don't!

Well I’m sure hours of IXL learning will do wonders for your kid. I’m banking on my kids learning to focus so that they can read and analyze long texts and solve complex, multi step problems, since those are the skills you need to succeed in university.

[Anonymous]

The no tech parents are not going to convince the tech-head parents that their approach is better and vice versa. But I will point out that only one approach has a proven track record.

Men and women with paper, pencils and computers the size of entire rooms put a man on the moon. Our techy kids don't even know their times tables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just put a note in their file that says No computer use. Tell your kid to refuse all assignments on a computer. We did that it was fine.

Ha, good luck with that. I'm sure your child will love being the only kid in the class who can't have a computer. Who has to do something different every time they assign some activity or watch some educational YouTube video.

They prefer it, more 1:1 time.

Oh so you're the a-h0le taking time away from my child because yours is too special for a computer? Thanks a lot nastygram.

DP. We opted out too, I don’t think it takes much time away, my kid is independent. But your disgusting rhetoric doesn’t change the fact that my kids will NOT be learning via computer. If you have a problem with it you should do the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Homeschooling. Or catholic. Maybe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just put a note in their file that says No computer use. Tell your kid to refuse all assignments on a computer. We did that it was fine.

HAHAHAHAHA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The no tech parents are not going to convince the tech-head parents that their approach is better and vice versa. But I will point out that only one approach has a proven track record.

Men and women with paper, pencils and computers the size of entire rooms put a man on the moon. Our techy kids don't even know their times tables.

I’m not for “no tech.” Tech is not going away, it does have advantages obviously at times, and it’s part of our world. To be clear I am for “safe Tech” and “intentional tech” in the schools. FCPS is not doing safe tech or intentional tech. They have plenty of money to prioritize more online security. They could also choose to do more paper/pencil tasks and put the computers away as much as possible. There are better options besides the horrible lightspeed and letting kids use proxies on school devices.

They could also set basic standards for teachers to actually use schoology consistently- like actually use the schoology calendar and have similar online structures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just put a note in their file that says No computer use. Tell your kid to refuse all assignments on a computer. We did that it was fine.

How does this work as your child gets older? I think they would miss out on a LOT of the work. My middle schooler's teachers put their syllabi and notes online, they communicate via Schoology. It would be so much extra work for a teacher to have to duplicate all of that on paper. I don't even know how they'd get a message to a child who doesn't have a computer - my middle schooler just scheduled a test retake via email, and the hall busses and bathroom basses are all electronic.

Interestingly, none of the "I opted my kids out of all tech in FCPS" parents have answered this question. I'm genuinely curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The no tech parents are not going to convince the tech-head parents that their approach is better and vice versa. But I will point out that only one approach has a proven track record.

Men and women with paper, pencils and computers the size of entire rooms put a man on the moon. Our techy kids don't even know their times tables.

And it took them a LONG time to do that; we’ve accomplished so much more since then.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t read the comments but the headline caught my eye. As a c-level software company exec I beg you to reconsider opting your child out of “computers”. I get it- I went to college before computers or emails but at this point if you opt for this, join the Amish. You will never compensate for it. AI is a springboard, computers are personal assistants and collaborators. Opt out of this and out out of modern life. I think I know what you are attempted (my unfettered childhood) but your child will be decimated in this area. I see no path for that these days. None.