A growing debate over classroom technology is taking shape in Lower Merion School District, as parents voice concerns about how screens are shaping student learning, writes Maddie Hanna for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
At a recent community meeting in the district, dozens of parents and students raised questions about the widespread use of Chromebooks and other devices, saying screen time has become too central to the school day.
Some parents described students spending hours on laptops. Others pointed to distractions like gaming and concerns about reduced reading and writing.
The issue reflects a broader shift in education following the pandemic, when schools rapidly expanded access to digital devices to support virtual learning. In Lower Merion, those tools have remained a core part of classroom instruction, used for everything from assignments to digital textbooks.
District leaders acknowledged the concerns, with administrators saying schools may have “gone too far” and are now working to find a better balance. Still, officials emphasized that technology remains an important tool and that eliminating it entirely is not under consideration.
Some parents have explored opting out of device use altogether, though district officials said that would effectively mean opting out of the curriculum.
To learn more about Lower Merion parents’ argument against Chromebooks, visit The Philadelphia Inquirer.
