Sewanhaka Central district introduces Tech Free Tuesday initiative
Sewanhaka High School seventh grader Abdul Bhatti as teacher Jackie McBrien calls on students during a Tech Free Tuesday class. Credit: Newsday/Kendall Rodriguez
On a recent Tuesday, Sewanhaka High School seventh graders in Jackie McBrien’s English class took turns acting out words during a game of charades.
In one sequence, two students stood in front of the classroom, with one flailing his arms at his classmate in an attempt to mimic a confrontation. Antagonize — another student guessed correctly, giving their team points on the board in a friendly competition with an opposing team in the class.
Throughout the lesson, the smartboard was off, no cellphones were out and the students' iPads remained tucked away in their backpacks. They relied on pencils or pens, a worksheet and their peers during that period.
The class was part of an initiative introduced in October at Sewanhaka Central High School District schools called Tech Free Tuesday. It encourages students and staff to "explore traditional, screen-free learning" one day every week to reduce technology use in the classroom.
"I think kids need days ... just to detox from technology," said Sewanhaka High School principal John Kenny. "It increases student engagement. I think kids need to interact face to face, not always behind a screen, and I think it promotes critical thinking."
Student Danilo Saint Cyr, 12, agreed. "Most of us are addicted to screens nowadays, and it really helps us to get away from it for a bit," he said.
The National Center for Health Statistics — a unit of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — found that during the period of July 2021 through December 2023 teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 averaged four hours or more of daily screen time. Higher screen use was linked to greater stress and poorer mental health, according to experts.
The increase of screen time among children soared during the early part of the pandemic, with one study showing a doubling of non-school-related device use, Newsday reported in 2022.
Amy J. Catalano, interim dean of Hofstra University’s School of Education and a professor of teaching, learning and lechnology, said initiatives like Tech Free Tuesday help educate parents and kids about the dangers of too much screen time.
"Kids that age don’t have a fully developed brain that promotes self-control, so they often don’t know to step away from the screen ... An initiative like that serves as education to parents and kids that we need a break from screens," she said.
Catalano noted that while technology can be positive, students need to be aware of the negative impacts, such as inhibiting social interaction and creativity.
"Their mind isn’t allowed to wander and therefore they’re not being creative in their problem solving," she said.
The more than 1,600 students at Sewanhaka High School, located in Floral Park, have assigned iPads, officials said.
McBrien said that in her classroom, she mixes up the use of digital devices throughout the week for her students, but noted that Google Classroom, education sites and other digital items are used often.
"They learn about all the digital tools they’ll be using in life," she said. "But it’s very important to have these days where they step away."
Seventh grader Abdul Bhatti said Tech Free Tuesday is a creative way to "enhance yourself."
The weekly initiative, he said, is "very important because sometimes a lot of technology could be very tiring and it’s a lot of screen light that is bad for your eyesight."
On a recent Tuesday, Sewanhaka High School seventh graders in Jackie McBrien’s English class took turns acting out words during a game of charades.
In one sequence, two students stood in front of the classroom, with one flailing his arms at his classmate in an attempt to mimic a confrontation. Antagonize — another student guessed correctly, giving their team points on the board in a friendly competition with an opposing team in the class.
Throughout the lesson, the smartboard was off, no cellphones were out and the students' iPads remained tucked away in their backpacks. They relied on pencils or pens, a worksheet and their peers during that period.
The class was part of an initiative introduced in October at Sewanhaka Central High School District schools called Tech Free Tuesday. It encourages students and staff to "explore traditional, screen-free learning" one day every week to reduce technology use in the classroom.
"I think kids need days ... just to detox from technology," said Sewanhaka High School principal John Kenny. "It increases student engagement. I think kids need to interact face to face, not always behind a screen, and I think it promotes critical thinking."
Student Danilo Saint Cyr, 12, agreed. "Most of us are addicted to screens nowadays, and it really helps us to get away from it for a bit," he said.
No digital devices were used during a recent class run by Jackie McBrien at Sewanhaka High School. Credit: Newsday/Kendall Rodriguez
The National Center for Health Statistics — a unit of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — found that during the period of July 2021 through December 2023 teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 averaged four hours or more of daily screen time. Higher screen use was linked to greater stress and poorer mental health, according to experts.
The increase of screen time among children soared during the early part of the pandemic, with one study showing a doubling of non-school-related device use, Newsday reported in 2022.
Amy J. Catalano, interim dean of Hofstra University’s School of Education and a professor of teaching, learning and lechnology, said initiatives like Tech Free Tuesday help educate parents and kids about the dangers of too much screen time.
"Kids that age don’t have a fully developed brain that promotes self-control, so they often don’t know to step away from the screen ... An initiative like that serves as education to parents and kids that we need a break from screens," she said.
Catalano noted that while technology can be positive, students need to be aware of the negative impacts, such as inhibiting social interaction and creativity.
"Their mind isn’t allowed to wander and therefore they’re not being creative in their problem solving," she said.
The more than 1,600 students at Sewanhaka High School, located in Floral Park, have assigned iPads, officials said.
McBrien said that in her classroom, she mixes up the use of digital devices throughout the week for her students, but noted that Google Classroom, education sites and other digital items are used often.
"They learn about all the digital tools they’ll be using in life," she said. "But it’s very important to have these days where they step away."
Seventh grader Abdul Bhatti said Tech Free Tuesday is a creative way to "enhance yourself."
The weekly initiative, he said, is "very important because sometimes a lot of technology could be very tiring and it’s a lot of screen light that is bad for your eyesight."
