The nJoyVision crew talks all the time about the importance of limiting screen time for the sake of your eyes. (Yes, we understand the irony of this web-based post discussing the dangers of too much screen time. Just go with it.) But, some big-time tech execs in Silicon Valley have taken this idea to a whole new level when it comes to how they educate their kiddos.
“No screens at all.” That’s the philosophy of the Waldorf School of the Peninsula, the not-so-high-tech school in the heart of Silicon Valley. WSP is one of around 160 Waldorf schools in the country that subscribe to a teaching philosophy focused on physical activity and learning through creative, hands-on tasks, this according to the New York Times. The driving motivation behind this shift away from technology is the fear that readily available access to information may be stifling creativity and problem-solving skills.
The Waldorf School plays host to children of some of the tech industry’s biggest names. eBay and Yahoo munchkins, as well as Apple and HP kiddos, can be seen in the halls and classrooms of this small, nine room elementary school. When asked about his philosophy regarding tech in the classroom, Google Communications Exec. Alan Eagle cut straight to the point:
“The idea that an app on an iPad can better teach my kids to read or do arithmetic, that’s ridiculous.”
This is a far cry from the philosophy being pushed by most public and private schools across the country. So what are we to do with this? True, research shows that it is paramount for the health and well-being of our pupils (pun absolutely intended) that we limit screen time, but are we hindering creativity by allowing our students to use technology at a young age? It’s something to think about.
