Croton-Harmon School District Implements Screen-Free Policy for Younger Students
The Croton-Harmon Union Free School District in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, has introduced a new screen-free policy for its younger students. From kindergarten through fourth grade at Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School, iPads will no longer be used individually by students. Instead, these devices will be stored away and only made available a few times a year or during teacher-led activities. This initiative stems from concerns raised by parents and educators regarding the extensive use of technology in early education. Jill Anderson, a Westchester elementary school teacher whose daughter attends school in the district, highlighted a shift from technology education to educational technology, where screens became integrated into nearly all learning activities, particularly during the pandemic. The New York Times reported last year that 81% of elementary school teachers surveyed across the U.S. indicated that students in their schools receive devices in class by kindergarten. The new policy aims to re-empha...
