Calls Grow to Remove Classroom Technology from U.S. Schools
An opinion column argues that mandatory tablets and apps in American classrooms hinder learning and should be eliminated.
The author warns that as the new school year begins, students will again be forced to stare at school-issued iPads and a slew of apps for routine assignments. While lawmakers scramble to pass age-gating rules amid moral panic over screen time, schools maintain policies that make digital tools indispensable for essays and math. Historical evidence shows that pre-2012 learners succeeded without such devices, and recent research favors paper and pen over computers for retention.
Educators describe the constant need to troubleshoot and police devices as a barrier to effective teaching. Moreover, the EdTech sector has become a lucrative data-collection enterprise, limiting opt-out options for families. In a climate of declining standards and lingering pandemic effects, the author calls for a reassessment of technology’s pervasive role in classrooms.
Why it matters
It highlights how mandatory classroom tech may impede learning and raise privacy concerns for students and families.
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