One Mother’s Rap Ignites Local Action (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Across the United States, families increasingly convinced schools to allow their children to abandon digital devices in favor of pen-and-paper assignments.[1]
One Mother’s Rap Ignites Local Action
Julie Frumin captured attention at a recent school board meeting in Thousand Oaks, California, by rapping a petition set to a tune from the musical Hamilton. She dubbed it the “Ten Tech Commandments” and highlighted demands for reduced device time in classrooms. The effort drew support from 260 signatories and prompted public comments from other parents and a teacher.[1]
Frumin had already secured approval for her third-grade daughter and 11-year-old son to forgo Chromebooks. Her son reported headaches from screen glare and disliked the built-in AI chatbot. Now, the children complete homework by hand at the kitchen counter, reporting greater happiness despite the extra effort. “I’m just so happy that they’re getting an analog education for now,” Frumin stated.[1]
Reasons Parents Are Leading the Charge
Families cited multiple issues with school-issued Chromebooks and iPads. Distractions topped the list, as students accessed videos with racial slurs or played games during class. Excessive screen time raised alarms about long-term health effects on youth.[1]
Privacy worries also emerged. Parents feared data vulnerabilities in education software, with one mother noting that children had become “the products.” Handwriting skills suffered too, as digital reliance diminished practice with pencils.[1]
- Screen-induced headaches and eye strain
- Access to inappropriate online content
- Decline in handwriting and focus
- Data privacy risks from hacking
- Preference for teacher-led, human instruction
- Dislike of integrated AI tools
Research Supports Shift to Analog Methods
Studies indicated that students using computers in school often performed worse academically than peers relying on paper. Information retention proved stronger when read in print form. Researchers like Faith Boninger from the University of Colorado Boulder’s National Education Policy Center described digital platforms as a “mirage,” arguing that early heavy tech use does not prepare children for future tools that may evolve entirely.[1]
Nearly 90% of public middle and high schools operated under 1:1 device policies, per recent federal data, with over 80% of elementary schools following suit based on a 2021 survey. The pandemic accelerated this trend through federal funding, but post-crisis reviews questioned its value.[1]
Networks Empower More Families
Parents built informal alliances via emails, group chats, and websites. Emily Cherkin, a former Seattle teacher, developed a toolkit with research summaries, email templates, and administrator questions. Downloaded over 3,000 times, it helped four families in her district opt out.[1] “Opting out forces a conversation,” she explained.
Others formed groups like the Tech-Safe Learning Coalition, offering refusal templates. Lisa Cline in Montgomery County, Maryland, kept her son off screens from third grade through high school graduation. Kaitlan Finn near Chicago rallied 75 parents to limit devices to school hours only. Some districts printed paper alternatives; others allowed personal laptops with parental controls.[1]
Key Takeaways
- Parents often pioneered opt-outs in their districts, clarifying legal options along the way.
- Schools varied in response, from initial resistance to accommodations like printed work.
- Analog approaches restored handwriting, focus, and family satisfaction.
This movement challenged the post-pandemic default to screens and urged districts to offer formal non-digital options. As one parent likened device mandates to past allowances for school smoking, the push gained momentum. What steps might your school take to balance tech and traditional learning? Share your thoughts in the comments.
