Bend-La Pine Schools Urged to Reduce ‘Addictive Tech’ for Better Health
TL/DR –
A group of 135 healthcare providers, including pediatricians, child psychiatrists, and counselors, are expressing concerns about the use of technology, such as iPads and phones, in Bend-La Pine Schools. They claim that the technology is addictive and adversely impacts children’s behavior, mood, attention, academic achievement, and mental and physical health. The group, supported by healthy tech advocacy group Well Wired, is recommending changes to the school’s tech policy, including stricter screen time limits, removal of addictive applications from school iPads, prioritizing traditional learning methods, and stronger policies around phone use in schools.
Healthcare Professionals Raise Concerns About Tech Use in Bend-La Pine Schools
A coalition of 135 healthcare practitioners will deliver a letter of concern to the Bend-La Pine School Board regarding the usage of technology in schools. The group, comprising pediatricians, child psychiatrists, child psychologists, therapists, social workers, counselors, and behavioral health providers, will voice their worries about tech use (iPads and phones) and its impact on students’ mental and physical health and academic success in Bend-La Pine Schools.
The letter, offering to work with the school district on creating best practice tech policies, will be presented at the BLP School Board meeting on Tuesday evening. Well Wired, a local healthy tech advocacy group, announced the plan in a news release on Friday.
Impact of Tech on Student Health and Behavior
Local pediatrician Dr. Kate Broadman, supported by fellow healthcare providers, criticizes the excessive use of iPads and phones in Bend-La Pine Schools. They express concerns over the addictive nature of technology and its detrimental effects on children’s behavior, mood, attention, academic achievement, and overall health.
The group joins a growing community call-to-action for tech policy reform in Bend-La Pine Schools. The issue has gained traction thanks to Well Wired’s continuous efforts, including an in-depth parent survey and public comments to the school board.
Concerns and Recommendations
Well Wired highlights several worrisome scenarios arising from unrestricted tech use in schools, including cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and unwarranted distractions during instruction. The group asserts that the reliance on iPads for teaching crucial subjects adversely impacts skill development, critical thinking, and interpersonal communication.
Well Wired and its supporting health care community urge Bend-La Pine Schools to recognize the role of addictive tech in the escalating youth mental health crisis and promote deeper, distraction-free learning. The proposal includes several recommended tech policies, such as setting age-appropriate screen time limits, removing addictive programs from school iPads, and prioritizing traditional learning methods over digital ones.
Well Wired’s Advocacy Efforts
Since its inception in fall 2023, Well Wired has secured a robust support network of parents, teachers, and health professionals, all concerned about tech’s influence on youth mental health and academic performance. The group is currently working with Oregon House Rep. Emerson Levy on a potential phone-free school bill.
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