On June 22, I attended the Dysart Governing Board meeting and spoke about two growing concerns in education: the increasing use of artificial intelligence in our classrooms and the amount of screen time our students are experiencing each day.
I have spoken to many parents about their concerns regarding technology in schools. One issue I hear repeatedly is that students are using district-issued Chromebooks to access social media, YouTube, and other online content, even when parents have chosen not to allow those platforms on devices at home.
Parents work hard to establish rules and boundaries for their children. When schools provide access to content that parents have intentionally restricted, it creates unnecessary conflict and frustration. The relationship between schools and families should be built on trust and cooperation. Schools and parents should be partners in raising and educating children, not competitors working at cross purposes. District issued chromebooks should have software that prevents students from using them for anything other than school work.
Technology certainly has a place in education. Students need to learn basic computer skills and understand how to navigate an increasingly digital world. However, technology should be a tool that supports learning, not a substitute for learning itself.
Across America, school districts are beginning to recognize the unintended consequences of excessive screen time. Many are reducing technology use for younger students and returning to practices that emphasize reading, writing, hands-on learning, and face-to-face interaction. Research continues to raise concerns about the impact of excessive screen exposure on attention spans, social development, and academic performance.
Artificial intelligence presents another challenge. While AI can be useful when used responsibly, we must ensure that students are learning how to think, write, research, and solve problems independently before relying on technology to do those tasks for them.
The decisions we make today will shape the next generation of learners. Dysart is an excellent district, but we must be willing to have honest conversations about technology’s role in education. The time to address these concerxns is now, before today’s convenience becomes tomorrow’s problem.
