Public schools across the U.S. are pulling back on the amount of tech for students after making classrooms feel like "an office," The New York Times' Natasha Singer (Natasha Singer) says. "Schools felt like they were trying to make schools like offices ... where every worker has their own... device and spends most of their day on their device, emailing and writing presentations," she told Horizons host William Brangham. "I think schools are pulling back on that and saying, actually, a classroom is a classroom, it's not a mini business and kids are not mini-entrepreneurs," she added. Horizons from PBS News, dives into the science, health, technology and environmental issues making headlines each week. Visit the PBS News website to watch this week's episode.show more

This correction is long overdue. Technology should support learning—not replace books, handwriting, conversation, imagination, and the ability to sit with a difficult problem without opening another tab. Children aren’t office workers in training, and a classroom shouldn’t feel like a cubicle farm with smaller chairs. What disappeared from education when every student received a screen?

@natashanyt They were enticed by Big Tech promises of higher test scores and graduation rate increases through shiny devices. And in the end, the only winner was those who lined their pockets 💰

@natashanyt NO SHIT. The truth is that info was already known, but companies treated school districts like new commercial markets. We went from a period of school designated for computer skills and no phones in school to screentime at home and school with an ever-growing literacy crisis.

What is talked about far less around tech in schools is the pressure the tech companies put on schools to have students on X amount of time or they wouldn’t make gains from the program. In my mind, that contributed to a significant uptick and reliance as all the sudden school administration was tracking time on the technology and teachers were getting in trouble if each student didn’t meet that time amount per week.

@natashanyt NO devices in schools. Children learn with their brains and their hands. Not screens. Give them more books, difficult questions and strict supervision.

@natashanyt Parents have known for a decade but the teachers unions & administrators wanted them. The unions, tech companies & teachers colleges have done nothing to make education better. When will the unions be held accountable?

@natashanyt Good. Get big tech the fuck out of child education's way. The masks and lockdowns were the biggest mistake. Kids need community (non-online settings).

@natashanyt In related news…

@natashanyt The education pendulum always swings from one side to another. I just hope this time a balance can be found.

@natashanyt Here’s what public schools that are pulling back on the amount of tech are doing.

@natashanyt Better late than never.

@natashanyt Well, that’s what society wanted for schools was to build students that would be able to go in offices…

@natashanyt Interesting perspective on balancing tech and traditional learning in schools!

@ruwaromman @natashanyt Giving every kid a Chromebook was stupid as fuck

@natashanyt Fair. Kids don't need a desk job at 11. Give them a workbook and a pen, not a laptop empire.

@natashanyt the laptop was never really the problem. we dropped screens into a room built for batch pacing and then blamed the screen. a kid working with a tutor that actually waits for him does not feel like an office worker. same device, different room.