Reading this article really highlights the situation in the classroom. We are competing against an appealing device that can be all consuming for students.
Parents are challenged both the content and the frequency of the digital stream.
Ironically, parents want their children to be part of the group, but they also want them to be leaders. It's funny how the peer pressure of their children has pushed them to capitulate and allow their children the use of the phones so their children can belong to the group.
Parents seem caught between their children belonging and the need for self-control, good grades and sleep. The duplicitous use of FB identities, IG accounts and apps to hide pictures gives parents a false sense of security that they are managing the content.
Teachers are being encouraged to include more and more technology in the classroom which adds to the pressure for a student to have the smart phone as a need rather than a want. It doesn't make it easier for parents. People cite the educational value of the internet, but it appears that the children are not always utilizing the educational aspects of the available information.
Teachers are competing with children who get inadequate sleep, in part because of technology, and who are distracted, in part because of digital social interactions or gaming. Yet, technology can be of a real benefit to our students.
This post is designed to help the parents like the one at the end of the article. Her statement was that she did not care what other parents did, she wanted the family to be the center of gravity. I will encourage you with our family's experience. We did not permit our child to use social media until her Senior year in college. (What?! It's true. Even though she was 21, she respected our view and honored it. As a matter of fact, she had a vibrant social life and excellent grades. When she was about 20, she thanked me for being so firm and vigilant. She said she didn't appreciate it at the time, but she was thankful for all of the difficulties she had avoided.) We did not provide a smart phone until her second year of college, and her previous phone did not include texting on the plan. She lived. We kept all screen use and phone use in the common areas of our home. We maintained that standard to allow everyone to be accountable in practice and in example. You never know which family member may be susceptible to online issues that will manifest in their personality or performance. This allows everyone to keep each other on the straight and narrow, so to speak. We avoided gaming addiction by limiting all screen time to a set amount for the week. Now, as an adult, she makes her own choices, but I note that she is not ruled by technology. She is able to use it, not be used by it. It took a long time to get there. It took turning a deaf ear to the requests for more privileges. It took explaining our philosophy many, many times. It took inner fortitude and introspection. (Do I want her to be part of a group for her sake, or for my feeling of having raised a popular child? Would I give in against my principles for the sake of her temporary happiness? What will be best in the long run? Do I really want to hear my friends criticize my strictness one more time? Do I really want to worry if I am making my child fall behind because I am so firm? Incidentally, we had plenty of opportunities for her to gain computer experience. It's just that it was done in our living room where we were all together. Ironically, she had a digital job for several years through her last year of high school and first few years of college. She was not held back because of less exposure to the digital devices consuming her friends.) I am grateful we were able to maintain our tech policy in our home since it was a benefit to all in our home. It was hard. Don't give up if you have those views. You will be glad you stayed true to your beliefs.
OK, I'm off my soap box. Tomorrow will be a traditional educational post. :)
First published 1/13/18
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