Richardson ISD is among other Texas districts leading the front to curb tech distractions in the classroom, and we hope more schools will follow suit.
Our newsroom recently reported that Richardson ISD would begin implementing screen time limits across its schools in the upcoming school year. The new policy will limit students in first through fourth grades to 20 minutes a day, those in fifth and sixth to 30 minutes a day and no more than 20 minutes per class for upper grade levels.
In the past, we have been supportive of the push to limit the influence of technology in the classroom in a move to return to tactile learning. We are happy to see ongoing efforts by school districts to emphasize direct interactions with peers and teachers rather than Chromebooks.
The implementation of this policy makes Richardson, along with Garland ISD, some of the first school districts in the state to limit the time students are allowed to spend on any device, not just cellphones. The Richardson ISD guidelines come four years after the district banned the use of cellphones during the school day and almost one year after the Legislature passed a statewide cellphone ban in public schools.
Richardson ISD’s cellphone ban was initially met with pushback, but it ultimately produced positive results in the classroom. School officials reported more instructional time and better teacher retention.
Other districts should also place limits on classroom technology.
Chromebooks began to proliferate in classrooms in the 2010s. For a majority of school districts, it grew into a classroom necessity as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, this technology was needed for at-home learning, and companies like Google sold districts on how their devices helped them stay on the cutting edge.
Many districts across the country were told technology would bring beneficial changes to the classroom and promote learning. But many teachers complain that this technology has caused more distractions in class than positive learning changes. We need to return to the standard of using technology only when it enhances learning, not as a default.
Laptops and tablets make it possible to tailor exercises to students’ abilities in real time. But teachers also have to deal with the disruptions they cause by allowing easy access to social media platforms and online games.
Children are not going to stop learning because they do not have access to a Chromebook. In fact, by limiting the reliance on devices, it forces students to talk among themselves, ask questions in class and engage with their teachers.
The Texas Legislature was right to ban cellphone use during the school day, but that was just the first step. Schools should review their screen usage next.
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