Los Angeles parents are up in arms over their school district's policy of handing out iPads to students starting from kindergarten. The initiative, meant to give children a technological leg-up and track those falling behind, has turned into a nightmare for many families. According to Lila Byock, whose son was assigned an iPad last year, he would spend hours playing Fortnite instead of doing his schoolwork.
Byock is not alone in her concerns. Her son's classmates have been similarly affected, with some even getting stuck on YouTube and other online platforms that aren't part of their curriculum. The problem seems to be that the iPads are being used just as widely as personal devices, despite the schools' claims that students spend less than two hours a day on screens.
Parents across Los Angeles are banding together, forming a coalition called Schools Beyond Screens to push for change. Their demands include restrictions on screen time in class and better monitoring of how these devices are being used. One parent described how her 6-year-old son had repeatedly soiled himself during iPad time due to overstimulation.
The issue has sparked heated debates at school board meetings, with some officials insisting that schools should provide students with equal access to technology, regardless of the risks. However, many parents and teachers are now questioning whether this approach is doing more harm than good.
Some educators have expressed concerns about the lack of oversight on these devices, allowing students to bypass filters and monitoring software. Others argue that digital learning tools should be used in moderation, not as a substitute for face-to-face instruction.
The Los Angeles Unified School District has acknowledged some of these issues but insists that technology is meant to enhance education, not replace it. The district's superintendent has even suggested that schools are not the cause of problems with screen addiction and that parental responsibility plays a bigger role.
As parents continue to push back against this policy, many hope that their efforts will lead to concrete changes in how devices are used in classrooms across the city.
Byock is not alone in her concerns. Her son's classmates have been similarly affected, with some even getting stuck on YouTube and other online platforms that aren't part of their curriculum. The problem seems to be that the iPads are being used just as widely as personal devices, despite the schools' claims that students spend less than two hours a day on screens.
Parents across Los Angeles are banding together, forming a coalition called Schools Beyond Screens to push for change. Their demands include restrictions on screen time in class and better monitoring of how these devices are being used. One parent described how her 6-year-old son had repeatedly soiled himself during iPad time due to overstimulation.
The issue has sparked heated debates at school board meetings, with some officials insisting that schools should provide students with equal access to technology, regardless of the risks. However, many parents and teachers are now questioning whether this approach is doing more harm than good.
Some educators have expressed concerns about the lack of oversight on these devices, allowing students to bypass filters and monitoring software. Others argue that digital learning tools should be used in moderation, not as a substitute for face-to-face instruction.
The Los Angeles Unified School District has acknowledged some of these issues but insists that technology is meant to enhance education, not replace it. The district's superintendent has even suggested that schools are not the cause of problems with screen addiction and that parental responsibility plays a bigger role.
As parents continue to push back against this policy, many hope that their efforts will lead to concrete changes in how devices are used in classrooms across the city.
. I mean who thought it was a good idea 2 hand out gaming consoles 2 kindergartners? It's literally just an excuse 4 them 2 avoid teaching actual lessons. I got a cousin who went thru this in school & now he's stuck on Fortnite 24/7 lol 
. Parents gotta stand up & demand change! More restrictions on screen time, better monitoring systems... it's about time someone held these schools accountable for ruining kids' lives 
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And what's up with the whole "we'll just monitor usage" thing? 
Does anyone actually do that? I swear, schools are trying to give our kids diabetes and a permanent case of ADHD. 
At least they're acknowledging some issues now... better late than never, right? 
. The fact that schools aren't doing enough to monitor this is, like, super worrying 
. We need to make sure our schools prioritize both tech and human interaction 
. Can't wait to see what changes come out of this coalition effort 
! #NotMyScreenTime #TechForLearningNotAddiction
. Parents need to take responsibility for setting limits and monitoring their kids' screen time. The schools can't be expected to police every child's behavior when they're basically being treated like mini- adults with tablets 
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. Like what about all the screen time that's already happening outside of school? And now they're gonna put more devices in their hands and expect them to be productive? Its not that simple... parents r right to be concerned, schools need 2 find a better balance between tech and actual learning 
yikes!
. Some parents are totally on board with it, but others are losing their minds! 
Like, 2 hours a day isn't even that much time, right? And what's with the lack of monitoring software? It's like they're just winging it 
. I feel for these parents who are banding together to fight this policy - I hope they get some serious changes made ASAP 
The iPad initiative was meant to give students a leg-up, but it's turned out to be a distraction. It's time for schools and districts to take responsibility and prioritize what's best for the kids - learning in moderation is key! 
its like they think kids are born with some sort of innate tech savviness or something newsflash: kids need to play outside and learn how to use their brains, not just stare at a screen all day 
But what about when they sneak around and use their iPad during class? 
It's just not fair to parents who can barely keep up with their own kiddos' screen time.
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. It's a tough balance, but someone's gotta do it 
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! iPads in kindergarten? That's just crazy talk! 
It's all about balance, you know? They can't just give out these things like candy because "every kid deserves equal access" 
- that's just it, every kid doesn't! Some are gonna get addicted, some are gonna need more guidance... let's not be too hasty here. 
. Now it's like our schools are trying to turn us into digital zombies 
. Can't they see that too much screen time is not good for them? My friend's kid had an accident because he was on his tablet during recess 
... accidents like that happen when you're too distracted by screens!
? that's like giving kids a superpower (or a recipe for disaster 