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Parents opt kids out of school computers, insisting on pen and paper instead (www.nbcnews.com)
submitted 2 days ago by remington@beehaw.org to c/technology@beehaw.org
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[-] megopie@beehaw.org 13 points 1 day ago

On the one hand, I’m skeptical of the assertions that pen and paper is inherently a better way to take notes and learn.

But I do agree with the general aversion to a lot of ed tech. So much effort to shove kids faces in front of softwear and hardware that was sold to administrators by marketing teams from big tech companies. So many opportunities for those tech companies to exploit local school districts, ether to extract unreasonable profits, or for access to a mailable locked in user base.

If a school is going to go all in teaching with computers, they need to be carefully choosing what they use and not just adopting a premade package from some tech company.

[-] definitemaybe@lemmy.ca 10 points 1 day ago

Educational research is a bit of an anomaly, in that it has the lowest replication study rate of any "real" scientific discipline. There are lots of reasons for that, but it means that you can cherry pick individual studies to support just about any pedagogical (teaching) practice.

That said, the evidence is pretty clear that there is higher retention for most learners when writing by hand. Even writing with a stylus on the screen seems to lead to lower retention. There's something about the multisensory input learners get from pencil and paper that seems to make a difference.

That said, that doesn't mean there's no places for Ed tech. In particular, students learn how to write better when they can edit their text, which happens a lot faster with a word processor. Digital science labs allow for quick exploration of a topic in minutes instead of needing a full class period for setup and clean up.

But it should only be used when appropriate, imho as a K-12 educator and parent.

[-] DosDude@retrofed.com 1 points 1 day ago

Writing by hand is a good way to get fine eye hand coordination. I think, at least for younger kids, writing should be primary during development. Around 12 years of age it could be phased towards computers instead.

[-] Scrath@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago

I'm at the point where I wish I had more reasons to use pen and paper because I have a couple fountain pens I really want to use more.

Unfortunately my entire work is computer based and it does not make sense to put my notes on paper because I write them as documentation for my work.

[-] pewgar_seemsimandroid@lemmy.blahaj.zone -3 points 2 days ago

??? just install linux.

[-] stylusmobilus@aussie.zone 16 points 2 days ago

Did you read the article in any depth? What the software is, isn’t the only rationale.

[-] MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de -3 points 2 days ago

The rationales of tech-illiterate helicopter parents are not the only ones worth discussing.

[-] stylusmobilus@aussie.zone 2 points 2 days ago

They’re probably the majority, for whom moving to Linux solves nothing. It goes too for handwriting.

[-] MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 2 days ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

Somehow, I doubt the Venn Diagram of parents with the time, resources and energy to move their kids off technology without hurting their education versus those with the time, resources and energy to get their kids their own laptops is much less round and overlapping than a singular circle. In otherwords, the exceptions on either end are just that, tiny little slivers, and neither close to anything like "the majority".

You're half-right that the OS can seem irrelavent, but suggesting Linux is far less extreme than suggesting the removal of tech entirely.

These kids would rather have Steam-decks, AKA, capable general-purpose computers. They would probably learn more from owning them, and yes, being forced to take regular analog breaks from their use. Steam-decks run Linux, btw...

... but no, an educational, social, play and extra-curricular world defined entirely by parents' biases is obviously best, the one thing we should all agree on.

No seriously, stay away from my kids. Their hand-writing is probably better than yours.

[-] stylusmobilus@aussie.zone 6 points 2 days ago

Somehow, I doubt the Venn diagram…

That’s why I asked if you read the article and now I’m wondering if you have experience raising and schooling children. I did read it, the article doesn’t just focus on ‘windows bad’ or ‘AI bad’. I have schooled and raised several kids, including homeschooling and fostered, so not only am I aware that each kid works better with a different approach, many parents, and I know this from personal experience, prefer that their kids do and submit handwritten work. Whatever their rationale is.

You’re half right…suggesting Linux is far less extreme

And fine for the group that is concerned and wants to maintain teaching with tech. However, as I said that’s not the only reason or rationale for parents.

These kids would rather have Steam Decks

A lot of kids would.

Steam decks run Linux

And?

but no…

Again, that lack of knowledge about raising them is showing.

Stay away from my kids

So no need to be an arsehole about it because nothing I’ve said suggested that kind of response. That one deserves a ‘fuck you’. Given what you’ve showed here, I’d be somewhat concerned about their well-being.

[-] MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 1 day ago

I've probably changed more daipers than all but a few of the women you've met, but do go-on. "Stay away from my kids" deserves a fuck you? Go to hell where you belong. My kids aren't sheltered from the internet and the wider world - I would be in prison if I were half the skeeve you've implied I was - but people like you rightly give them the ick.

You have no more understanding of technology or proper parenting than these, frankly, luddites, who themselves seem more ignorant than your average amish or mennonite. Those groups at least grasp the choices they must make to support their lifestyles in the modern-world and make them with intention versus faith and belief, rather than from a place of "I don't control it from top to bottom, so its gross".

Oh, and I read your stupid article about Los Angeles suburbanites, same as the other article it references about Los Angeles suburbanites. Really enlightened, salt-of-the-earth stuff. Reminded me why I left Southern California on multiple levels.

[-] stylusmobilus@aussie.zone 2 points 1 day ago

I’ve probably changed

Probably worn more as an adult too judging by your reactions.

Go to hell…

if I were half the skeeve

people like you rightly give them the ick

Fuck, you really are unbalanced aren’t you? Nothing I’ve said has warranted your reaction and it underwrites my point about the wellbeing of your children.

That’s what deserves a fuck you, arsehole; your insinuation that I can’t be trusted around children.

you have no more understanding…

How the fuck would you know.

I read your stupid article

Los Angeles suburbanites

really enlightened

I wrote no article about Los Angeles suburbanites champ. You need to stop sniffing Ajax sunshine.

You need some genuine help.

[-] MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 1 day ago

Nothing I've said was any less warrented than your "fuck you" bullshit. I know when I'm diving into the mud, unlike you.

Also, now who didn't read the article from the OP? Somehow, it doesn't surprise me that looking up the locations of places mentioned in an article you've repeatedly attacked others for "not reading" is a step far beyond your wheel-house.

[-] pimento64@sopuli.xyz 0 points 17 hours ago

Take your meds and some reading comprehension refresher courses

[-] MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

This, I've gotta hear. Do you even have anything to say or any idea how far down an off-topic and de-railed thread you've chosen to step in?

If you're so certain you're up to the task, then by all means, correct me, pickled-sensei. I like a good chuckle as much as anyone.

[-] pimento64@sopuli.xyz 1 points 6 hours ago

Nah *un-tips your fedora*

[-] stylusmobilus@aussie.zone 1 points 23 hours ago

Yeah whatever junior. You couldn’t even get the person you’re commenting to right.

[-] MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

... Yeah, no. Nothing I've said to you was meant for anyone else, and I doubt you're a day older than I, almost as much as I doubt any child who has escaped your clutches ever talked to you again.

Wait, are you still on that non-sense where calling it your article means calling you the author? If you struck me as someone capable of feeling shame rather than hoarding personal affronts not entirely for you like little treasures, I guess I could have called it "your source", but let's be real, that was never going to help you back to the support group you've stumbled out-of.

First three words of it were the location, by the way. Imagine thinking the average mid-town Los Angeles family has such a nice yard...

Obviously you're not the author, or your stanning of this non-sense shouldn't have dipped into such weak-sauce semantics. Pretending that's what I said was an amusing conceit though.

[-] stylusmobilus@aussie.zone 1 points 12 hours ago

I have no idea what you’re raving on about now

None whatsoever

[-] MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 11 hours ago

You made that very clear from the start

[-] stylusmobilus@aussie.zone 1 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

You mean this article now? You say you read it?

No you fucking didn’t, because your answer was JusT iNsTaLL LinUx when clearly both through this article and real life, there are several reasons why parents prefer to have their children do and submit handwritten work.

No wonder I was confused on which article. None of that excuses your abuse though and you still have no clue what you’re talking about overall, arsehole.

Edit: first paragraph for clarity

[-] MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 9 hours ago

Now who is confused about who they are replying to? "Just Install Linux" wasn't my comment.

[-] stylusmobilus@aussie.zone 1 points 9 hours ago

Yeah looking back, I got confused at the start with people. My apologies.

That said, both of us have unloaded necessarily, especially where our children are concerned. For my part, I’m sorry with that as well.

[-] 4am@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 days ago

I don’t think the school district is very keen on wiping their laptops and installing your own OS on them.

[-] MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 2 days ago

I don't think school districts have any business renting-out years-old Chromebooks full of spyware for amounts that could buy a newer laptop, but here we are.

Couple of weeks-ago, I had to basically trick my daughter's Chromebook into caching a lesson at a resolution high enough for her to tell that her snow-day packet's math problems actually were part of the lesson. There was no option to download the video or watch it on another device(also tried, even casting it to a TV wasn't available).

... but yeah, what the district and Google are cool with is super-important. They don't even use books.

this post was submitted on 16 Feb 2026
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