Silicon Valley's Kids Get Screen-Free Schools. Why Don't Yours?
Summary
Some Silicon Valley parents are choosing private schools that restrict screens, citing concerns about how digital devices affect children’s learning and development. The article contrasts that trend with research on classroom distraction and links between screen exposure and academic and language outcomes, while noting that digital tools can also support some students.Key Facts
- San Francisco Waldorf does not allow screens in the classroom, according to the article.
- Software engineer German Gil told The Guardian that he enrolled his daughter at San Francisco Waldorf to give her a screen-free school experience.
- San Francisco Waldorf said applications for early-childhood places had risen, with many prospective parents working in technology.
- The article reports that early-childhood tuition at the school is nearly $40,000 a year and high-school tuition is nearly $60,000 a year.
- An OECD report in 2023 found that nearly one-third of surveyed students across member states said digital devices distracted them in most or every math lesson.
- A 2024 Norwegian study of 36 university students found greater brain connectivity during handwriting than typing, especially in networks linked to learning and memory.
- A September 2026 JAMA Pediatrics review covering more than 2.8 million children found that greater screen exposure was associated with poorer academic performance and language skills.
- The article notes that classroom technology can help students through tools such as text-to-speech, dyslexia-friendly fonts and subtitles.
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