Thousands of students and educators in Upper Manhattan are in the midst of a digital detox this week as part of a collective effort to reduce the reliance on screens.
“We all have seen it, the omnipresence of devices and screens in everybody's life,” said P.S. 187 parent Olympia Kazi. “And we can totally change it.”
Kazi came up with the idea for the weeklong effort, dubbed “Screen Break,” which was embraced by the superintendent of Manhattan’s School District 6 in Washington Heights and Inwood. Together, they encouraged the district’s 38 elementary and middle schools to avoid computers in the classroom as much as possible, and expand recess when they can.
Supporters also organized a series of screen-free after-school events, including a book fest, an artsy “sketch out” and a community-wide playdate.
Gothamist spoke with kids and teachers about the first day of the screen break, and reviews were generally positive.
Nestor Ireland, 8, a third grader at PS 187, said he was enjoying more screen-free activities.
Usually, there is “a lot a lot a lot” of screentime in schools, he said.
The window of Fountain Bookshop promoting the Screen Break at neighborhood schools.
He said technology is sometimes useful. “The other day, the computer gave us information on something we were researching, and it really helped us,” he said.
But it can get out of control, he added. He said his class recently had a substitute teacher with a laissez-faire approach to screens, and a classmate started playing the video game "Fortnite." “So that was really bad,” he said.
Liam Yamana, 7, who attends P.S. 178, said he was also enjoying the break. “One of the days we're going to play board games and have snacks outside, and I'm excited for that,” he said.
His twin sister Juniper, however, was less enthusiastic. “I like screens,” she said.
The district-wide screen break is the latest example of pushback to technology in schools.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s ban on smartphones in schools has received widespread praise, giving the movement added momentum.
In New York City, thousands of parents have called for a moratorium on artificial intelligence in schools, and the city recently pulled plans for an AI-focused high school.
The Community Education Council in Manhattan’s District 4, which is an elected parent group, has called on officials to place strict limits on how much time kids can spend on screens in schools.
Iowa recently passed 60-minute daily screen limits for schools, and Los Angeles is also considering restrictions.
But reducing reliance on tech in classrooms is not an easy task. Tech is deeply embedded in schools now, where most students are assigned laptops or devices and kids are required to take tests on computers.
Kazi said much of her kids’ English, math and science classwork takes place via computer, and all of their homework is through Google Classroom – often with several YouTube links as supplements.
An after school book fest event that coincided with Screen Break at schools in Washington Heights and Inwood.
In keeping with the revolutionary spirit of the effort, an after-school “book fest” was held on Tuesday at the Morris-Jumel Mansion, George Washington's former headquarters. Kids spread across the garden of Manhattan’s oldest residence, reading under trees, coloring, painting, and playing improv games like “Zip Zap Zop.”
Kyle DeAngelis, a third-grade teacher at P.S./M.S. 368, said the screen break gave him “an opportunity to reflect” on the role of technology in the classroom. So far, he said, the experiment has gone well.
He said he still had to do the required testing via computer, but after that, he took time to explain the screen break to students. He had the class read articles about screens’ negative effects on cognition, physical health, and mental health, and invited children to share their views. DeAngelis said he was able to offer kids some extra play time since they had less computer work.
“I think this could be a really powerful annual tradition,” he said. “This screen break is just another front in the fight against ed tech’s encroachment in schools.”
City education officials endorsed the effort in District 6, while declining to say whether it would be expanded elsewhere. “We appreciate the collaboration taking place in District 6, where families, educators, and community leaders are working together to thoughtfully explore innovative ways to support student well-being and engagement,” said education department spokesperson Chyann Tull.
Kazi said she knows parents and educators are trying to do the best they can when it comes to managing technology’s benefits and drawbacks.
“There may be disagreements on the right balance,” she said. “But this is a conversation that is overdue.”
