Screen Schooled: Two Veteran Teachers Expose How Technology Overuse Is Making Our Kids Dumber

How have children changed in the last ten years? Anyone who has addressed or observed groups of children lately notice that our youth are less attentive. It’s harder to make eye contact. They have more trouble falling directions. They fidget. They want to lie on the floor instead of sitting up straight. Could constant exposure to screens be causing this problem? Joe Clement and Matt Miles have teamed up to produce an important wake-up call for parents. Their book, “Screen School: Two Veteran Teachers Expose How Technology Use is Making Our Kids Dumber” is a must read for anyone concerned about our children's future.Clement and Miles believe that most of our children are technology addicts. While they are adept at locating facts, they lack creative thinking, problem solving, and social skills. They include lots of research and practical teaching experience to back up their claims.Clement and Miles offer practical advice for parents. Each chapter ends with practical advice for parents. They recommend limiting screen time in the home and encouraging parents to advocate for the best education for their children.While other books* are tackling this topic, "Screen Schooled" gives the perspective of two public school insiders. They allow us to see firsthand how screens are impacting the students in their lives. They have inside information on the school system that can help parents advocate for the best education for their children.“Screen Schooled” makes for an enjoyable read. At times, it feels like a chat with your child’s favorite teacher. Clement and Miles have a heart for their students. They offer practical advice for the classroom as well as the home.*”Glow Kids,” Nicholas Kardaras,” IGen”,-Jean Twinge, “Disconnected,” Tom Kersling are other books about children and screens.

This book is an eye opener into connecting the dots of the terrifying reality whose signs have been present in my everyday life as a parent, teacher, and a young adult who is just on the cusp of being a “digital native”. It has caused me to reevaluate my personal daily habits as well as the approaches I will take with my toddler and the students I teach. The book is well-written in a way that’s easy to follow, interesting and personable. The content is well-researched, and claims are supported by solid factual evidence. Additionally, all of the apps discussed by the authors are indeed the most current fads plaguing the lives of our youth, further lending to the credibility, as well as the usefulness of the information presented.

I read “Screen Schooled” by Joe Clement and Matt Miles because of my interest in teaching Digital Citizenship at schools. Initially, I was worried that it might be another anti-technology book which is more ideological than scientific, but my worries disappeared soon after I started reading.The basic premise of the book could be summarized in one paragraph from the book: “The reality is that the evidence supporting the pro technology claims about digital natives is lacking if not nonexistent. Theoretical claims are stated as facts and their evidence is mostly anecdotal. When “evidence” is provided, it is often generated by the companies selling the very technology they claim to support. However, actual evidence presented by real social scientists overwhelmingly favors the conclusion that digital technologies are bad for kids in almost every conceivable way.” P.22Clement and Miles support their claims at three levels:1- Their own experience as veteran schoolteachers by citing actual cases of students that they encountered during their long career.2- Common sense which any teacher or parent cannot but agree with: “First of all, this shift in educational practice completely contradicts all the claims about digital natives. If they’re already so well versed in technology, why spend school time teaching it to them? … Second, what lessons in technology are we going to teach five - year - olds that will still be relevant when they enter the workforce sixteen years later? Finally, modern technology is so intuitive and user friendly that it doesn’t need to be taught. Virtually anyone with any common sense can figure it out.” P.59-603- Scientific studies the most important of which was a study titled How We Learn by researchers for Scientific American Mind which reviewed more than 700 scientific articles on ten common learning techniques to identify the most advantageous ways to study and which concluded that: “Of those deemed most advantageous for learning, exactly zero used any sort of advanced digital technology. Worse than that, and as I have taken great pains to describe, the overuse of these technologies actually harms kids in many ways.” P.193However, the authors do not necessarily advocate technology- free education nor want to return to the good old days when teachers only lectured and could whack students with rulers: “If students use a tool during their skills - acquisition journey, and it is a natural, simple part of the instruction, that is a bonus. However, teaching the gadget cannot replace teaching the content - related skill. Education should focus on skills that will never become unnecessary or outdated. These are the skills like reading, writing, arithmetic, critical thinking, and problem - solving.” P.220For Clement and Miles, the main issue is the addictive nature of technology and its overuse: “If modern technology could be used in moderation, that would be one thing. But the most appealing technology on the market today is designed with the intent of being addictive, to increase the duration and frequency of its use.” P.25.This book reconfirmed my belief that teaching digital citizenship at schools is much more important than teaching technology itself. I highly recommend “Screen Schooled” to whoever is interested in providing our children today with timeless education that they will need throughout their lives.Nizar Nakfoor

As a high school English teacher, most of what they say is on the money. There is no benefit whatsoever for letting a kid have a phone at school. Parents who think that "my kid is only on it when he or she is allowed and would never look at it during class" are living in a world of naivety. The authors do an excellent job of telling what it's really like from a teacher's point of view. I wonder how many parents will actually accept their words, though, because the message will require some introspection.

I wish all parents would read this book. Civilization depends on it.

Most important book for all parents, teachers, educators, politicians

What we knew but this provides proof. Will it change the headlong rush to silence kids with tech instead of teaching them......... NO!!

An easy read. Very educational. I am so glad I was exposed tooth's.