Health care providers urge Bend-La Pine schools to pull iPads from early classrooms, curb use of ‘addictive technology’ in classrooms

Will present “letter of concern” signed by 135 to school board Tuesday evening

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — On behalf of 135 local pediatricians, child psychiatrists, child psychologists, therapists, social workers, counselors and behavioral health providers, a representative of the health care community will submit a letter of concern to regarding the use of technology (ipads and phones) in Bend-La Pine schools at the Bend-La Pine School Board on Tuesday evening.

The letter signed by the 135 providers includes recommended technology policy reforms and an offer to partner with the district as the technology policy determines best practices for students’ mental and physical health, as well as their academic success.

The letter will be presented through public comment at the BLP School Board meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the BLP Education Center at 520 NW Wall Street in Bend, the group Well Wired said in a press release Friday, which continues in full below:

Local pediatrician Dr. Kate Broadman has gathered the support of 135 (and counting) health care providers, all of whom express concern about how iPads and phones are being used in Bend-La Pine schools, including how addictive technology affects behavior, children’s mood and attention. , academic achievement and mental and physical health, all of which they see in their practices.

They also express an urgent need for technology policy change in Bend-La Pine schools, adding to the growing call for action in the community. The letter follows local health technology advocacy group Well Wired’s efforts on the issue, including their parent survey of nearly 1,000 respondents, a presentation to the BLP superintendent and public comments at the school board in May.

Well Wired is a healthy technology advocacy group and family community in Central Oregon. The group was formed in the fall of 2023 by Ami Formica and Brooke Mues, two local parents with backgrounds and careers in education, counseling, psychology, marketing and business.

On June 18, Well Wired will also attend the school board meeting for public comment. They are encouraging parents, guardians and educators to join them in voicing their concerns and stories of distracting and problematic technology use by students at school – including children playing video games; children watching sports and movies; children who watch pornography, even at primary age; kids filming fights and kids being bullied online – all happening on school-issued iPads and on students’ phones while on school grounds and during class.

“Relying on the iPad for teaching reading, math and other subjects is hindering the development of important skills such as handwriting, creativity, critical thinking and person-to-person connection,” the group says.

Additionally, he claims studies show the iPad curriculum lacks efficacy and the district has failed to show it’s improving test scores in Bend-La Pine schools. Finally, Well Wired says current research shows clear evidence that addictive technology use increases the likelihood of poor mental health outcomes. According to Mental Health America, Oregon’s youth mental health was ranked 50th out of 50 states in 2023.

“Kids are spending too much time on screens at home and at school, and too little time being in-person with friends, playing outdoors, and having face-to-face experiences that will help them develop into healthy adults. “, said the organization. it says in its press release.

“Bend-La Pine Schools must recognize that addictive technology is contributing to the youth mental health crisis and consider how teaching with addictive technology contributes to distracted and shallow learning. Schools have an obligation to better protect, support and educate our children.”

Well Wired, Dr. Kate Broadman and their community of health care providers are seeking to collaborate and consult with the district on technology policy reform to improve the physical and mental well-being of children in Bend-La Pine schools. Below is a list of some of the proposed and recommended technology policies:

1. Remove iPads for younger elementary grades;
2. Set age-appropriate screen time limits for students during the school day;
3. Remove YouTube and other addictive and gamified programs from school iPads;
4. Prioritize pencil-to-paper learning whenever possible;
5. Use iPads only when doing so clearly enhances the depth of learning or introduces a skill that cannot otherwise be effectively taught (such as coding), storing them away from students’ desks when not in use;
6. Create and enforce stronger policies around phone use in schools, ideally adopting a district-wide “phone-free school” program, as many other districts across the country have done.

Since launching in the fall of 2023, Well Wired has developed a database of more than 500 parents, teachers and health care professionals in Central Oregon; more than 600 people registered for their five “Healthy Tech Talks” hosted by elementary school PTOs; surveyed 1,000 BLP parents (93% of whom want phones out of the classroom); presented to Bend-La Pine School District Superintendent Cook, Deputy Superintendent Nordquist and their technology leadership team; and is supporting Oregon House Rep. Emerson Levy for a potential phone-free school bill, including presenting to the House Education Committee at a recent information session.