Paper-First Literacy
Teachers over screens
"Put the teacher back in the center of the classroom. Technology is a powerful tool, but it should never be a substitute for teaching. It is a tool, not a tutor."
The Screen-First Classroom
Over the past decade, our public school system has increasingly relied on screens as the primary vehicle for education. In many classrooms, digital devices and software programs have transitioned from being supplemental learning aids to acting as the primary instructors.
This over-reliance on technology is having a devastating impact on our students' attention spans, mental health, and reading comprehension. When a Chromebook becomes a substitute for direct instruction, we lose the most critical component of education: the connection between a teacher and a student. Furthermore, the constant presence of unmonitored devices and smartphones in the classroom creates an environment of perpetual distraction, making deep, focused learning nearly impossible.
Devastating Impact
Our students' attention spans, mental health, and reading comprehension are suffering under constant screen exposure, replacing constructive human interaction with passive scrolling.
Dave's Proposed "Paper-First" Plan
Books Over Bytes
Dave will advocate for policies that prioritize physical books, handwriting, and printed materials for core instructional time, specifically in reading and math. Technology will be treated as an intentional supplement, not the default medium for every assignment.
Why Paper-First Makes Sense in a Digital Age
Reading on Paper vs. Digital Study
In 2019 Virginia Clinton did a comprehensive meta-analysis on the differences in reading on paper vs. reading on screens. The results are as you might expect: students have better comprehension and score significantly higher on paper vs. digital.