Parents Demand Opt-Outs from School Tech as Screen Time Debate Intensifies

For Pennsylvania high school senior Aliyah Pack, staying focused during class is a daily challenge. Her school district has integrated technology deeply into learning: students receive iPads in kindergarten, switch to Chromebooks in second grade, and are issued MacBooks in eighth grade.

Aliyah, who has ADHD, finds it nearly impossible to concentrate when lessons rely on screens. She admits to watching Netflix in class on her school laptop, hiding earbuds in her long, curly hair. “It’s very hard to get into the mindset of being in school,” she said.

Frustrated by her declining grades, Aliyah’s mother requested the school remove her laptop. The district refused, stating that removing the device was not an option.

Parents Rally Against Excessive Classroom Screen Time

Across the U.S., parents are voicing concerns about the growing role of screens in education. In Lower Merion Township, a wealthy Philadelphia suburb where Aliyah attends school, over 600 residents have signed a petition demanding the right to opt their children out of digital device use during school hours. The district has pushed back, arguing that opting out is not feasible because technology is essential to the curriculum.

School Board Rejects Opt-Out Proposals

At a school board meeting on Monday, members addressed parental concerns about technology use but made it clear that opting out was not under consideration. “There is not an option for us to not have technology in schools,” said Lower Merion School Board member Anna Shurak.

The meeting also included discussions about repealing a policy that currently allows opt-outs. Over 100 parents and community members attended the meeting, many wearing “Screens Down, Pencils Up” buttons.

Despite the pushback, parents clarified they are not anti-technology. Most agree that teaching responsible computer use is a critical life skill. Their concern is the over-reliance on screens for instruction.

“Teaching how to use technology is not the same thing as using technology to teach everything else.” — Sara Sullivan, parent

Concerns Over Gamified Learning and Screen Addiction

The debate highlights broader issues with educational technology. Parents question whether gamified software, like DreamBox—a math program used by second-graders—actually enhances learning. Subashini Subramanian, a parent, shared that her daughter felt pressured to rush through problems to earn points. When encouraged to work methodically, the 8-year-old replied, “If I go through all the steps, it’s slowing me down. I have to click, click, click.”

Adam Washington, another parent, described his son’s struggle with screen addiction. Despite taking away his phone or TV at home, his son still found ways to watch YouTube on the school-issued laptop.

The screen, Washington said, is “killing” his son’s focus.