Set smart screen time limits, New York State

Technology has been and will always be an integral component of learning, but that doesn't mean state leaders and educators should let students have unfettered access to screens during class.

For decades, pedagogical ideology hinged on expanding technology in the classroom. Six decades ago it was — if you can remember — those filmstrip projectors with the record or cassette tape that narrated the lesson. The goal was always to discover new and better ways to improve instruction and student engagement. Teachers were evaluated, in part, on how well they integrated technology to boost student performance.

Now, educational leaders, elected officials, parents and even students themselves are sounding an alarm about kids spending too much time during the school day looking at digital screens.

In June, the editorial board urged New York's elected and education leaders to limit screen time in class. Just this week, a Newsday/Siena University poll showed that 85% of likely Long Island voters are in favor of reducing the amount of class time that students spend on digital devices. An overwhelming majority of Long Islanders demand change.

Yet the state is wise to proceed cautiously. A broad K-12 ban or reduction would be too blunt a way of dealing with overexposure to screens. A more nuanced approach is needed. The state Education Department has to get this right.

American teens already spend on average more than 7 hours per day on screens, surveys have found, and younger kids hours themselves. Those overexposed to screens at young ages perform lower on standardized reading and math tests. Increased screen time among teens poses behavioral and mental risks. Since kids will use smartphones and tablets on their own, they don't need time during the school day to scroll aimlessly.

However, there are educational advantages to using computers during school. Young adults and children often learn by watching videos. Students with disabilities and those struggling in a traditional classroom can benefit from computers. Robotics and computer science students need to use technology during the instructional day. And some career training programs require computer competency.

Technology now is an inseparable part of kids' lives, and it will continue to be as they graduate and enter the workforce, where they will need to use tech to succeed. Schools and parents have an obligation to teach its responsible use. At the same time, schools need guidance from the state in limiting unproductive use of technology and support on spending more instructional time sharpening critical thinking skills.

New York State led the way in getting kids' faces out of smartphones during the school day. But the state has lagged other municipalities like Los Angeles in lowering kids' screen time in the classroom. Put the emphasis on improving core skills in reading, writing and arithmetic.

The state must heed what an overwhelming majority of Long Islanders are saying — limit screen time in schools, smartly and effectively.