Refusing technology in elementary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neuroscience shows that reading and writing on paper is vastly better for your brain than reading/writing on the computer. First, your eyes move differently on the computer. On paper, your eye moves left to right horizontally. On the computer, your eye moves up and down. If you learn to read by training your eye to read up and down, it is much harder to read long text (like a novel) on paper. In addition, you absorb less information when your eye moves up and down and you remember up to 30 percent less. Reading on a computer - an inherently "noisy" environment - also takes more cognitive effort than reading in a quieter space (like in bed with a book.)

Second, there is well documented evidence for the hand-brain connection. If you want to remember something, writing it out by hand is much better than typing it. The simple act of physically forming the letters with a pencil "engraves" it in your brain. Typing notes basically does nothing to help you remember.

Your kids are undergoing a great "tech" experiment. Generations from now, people will wonder why we did this to our kids - much like smoking rooms in high school. This generation will be the least educated generation since public schools were created.

It’s not an experiment.

[Anonymous]

Real talk for concerned parents: These organizations focus on research-backed concerns with technology use among students and teens, neuroscience on screens & mental health and learning, and AI ethics — advocating for safe, intentional tech use in schools, homes, and society.

🧠 Tech Risks, Teens & Mental Health / Neuroscience
1. Jonathan Haidt
Social psychologist known for research linking tech use to teen mental health issues.
👉 https://www.instagram.com/jonathanhaidt/ 
2. Tristan Harris (@tristanharris)
Tech ethicist & co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology — posts on dangers of social media, addictive attention systems, and why we need smarter tech design.
👉 https://www.instagram.com/tristanharris/ 
3. Scrolling2Death (parent/advocate documenting negative social media impact on teens)
👉 https://www.instagram.com/scrolling2death/ (if this handle exists visible publicly)
4. TechSafeLearning / techsafelearning (safety-focused account on tech and learning environements)
👉 https://www.instagram.com/techsafelearning/ (example shared by you — verify spelling)
5. Common Sense Media (@commonsensemedia)
Nonprofit that reviews media and advocates safe tech use for children/teens — often shares research & tips for families.
👉 https://www.instagram.com/commonsensemedia/ (availability depends on IG presence) 

⸻

🤖 AI Ethics & Responsible Tech Voices
1. Tristan Harris (@tristanharris)
Leading voice in humane tech & AI oversight; regularly posts warnings about irresponsible AI and algorithm design.
👉 https://www.instagram.com/tristanharris/ 
2. Mom.Uncharted / mom.uncharted (parent advocate sharing insights on tech safety & mindful AI use)
👉 https://www.instagram.com/mom.uncharted/ (user-provided handle)
3. Sneha Revanur (@sneha.revanur? — check for IG)
AI regulation activist & founder of Encode — strong on safe AI policy.
👉 (Search IG for “Sneha Revanur”) 

[Anonymous]

Are your state tests done on computers? If so, there will continue to be computer usage in the grades that take state tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are your state tests done on computers? If so, there will continue to be computer usage in the grades that take state tests.

My daughter just started kindergarten in a classical Catholic school that is basically no-tech. They do use computers for the standardized tests, but that’s it. I wish standardized tests were still paper-based, as do many of the other parents and teachers. However I think everyone recognizes the reality that tests are going to be administered by computer from here on out and this is an opportunity for the kids to get used to that format.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are your state tests done on computers? If so, there will continue to be computer usage in the grades that take state tests.

My daughter just started kindergarten in a classical Catholic school that is basically no-tech. They do use computers for the standardized tests, but that’s it. I wish standardized tests were still paper-based, as do many of the other parents and teachers. However I think everyone recognizes the reality that tests are going to be administered by computer from here on out and this is an opportunity for the kids to get used to that format.

And keep in mind that we’re talking about one day of computer usage in the year. I’ve seen people extrapolate from one day of testing to putting kids on tablets every day, and that seems ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are your state tests done on computers? If so, there will continue to be computer usage in the grades that take state tests.

Quarterly or annual testing on a computer is very different than doing all learning on screens and edtech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are your state tests done on computers? If so, there will continue to be computer usage in the grades that take state tests.

Quarterly or annual testing on a computer is very different than doing all learning on screens and edtech.

FCPS has in their heads that in order to prepare for the state tests on the computer, kids have to be on them for the whole year and do all their assessments on computer too. It’s ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

FCPS is erring on the side of too much edtech. Unless you are a parent witnessing this firsthand, it’s hard to see how awful it really is. The current 8th graders, for example, have been carrying laptops around for years and years. They were not taught phonics, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, and have not held or read textbooks. They have generally poor penmenship and money and clock skills because these things were ‘deemphasized’ during COVID and were never filled back in once school started up again. There is seemingly no plan to catch them up on de-emphasized skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS is erring on the side of too much edtech. Unless you are a parent witnessing this firsthand, it’s hard to see how awful it really is. The current 8th graders, for example, have been carrying laptops around for years and years. They were not taught phonics, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, and have not held or read textbooks. They have generally poor penmenship and money and clock skills because these things were ‘deemphasized’ during COVID and were never filled back in once school started up again. There is seemingly no plan to catch them up on de-emphasized skills.

+1 my 7th grader can’t read a clock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS is erring on the side of too much edtech. Unless you are a parent witnessing this firsthand, it’s hard to see how awful it really is. The current 8th graders, for example, have been carrying laptops around for years and years. They were not taught phonics, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, and have not held or read textbooks. They have generally poor penmenship and money and clock skills because these things were ‘deemphasized’ during COVID and were never filled back in once school started up again. There is seemingly no plan to catch them up on de-emphasized skills.

Yep. Sounds like my current 9th grader. Its horrible. My college sophomore got a completely different education.