Building a Human Connection
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Technology can be a wonderful tool, which is why our middle school students will learn to touch-type and use the Internet for research. However, the promise of technology in education has fallen far short of its aims—while study after study warns of the harm technology and media use pose for children, particularly during the early years of critical brain development.
At Golden Bridges our classrooms are screen-free, and our students thrive, both academically and socially. Our “unplugged” approach is backed not only by current research, but by the children and parents of our school. We also believe that teaching responsibility for a compassionate and empathic social life, person-to-person, is the foundation for healthy online communication and engagement, when students are introduced to social media. From our school handbook: "In order to cultivate your child’s imagination, protect his/her developing senses, and to reinforce the experience the children are exposed to at school, we ask that families limit their media exposure including television, videos, movies, computers, virtual assistants (Siri and Alexa) and mobile devices. Your child’s media experiences are brought into the classroom, affecting the group’s social and play dynamic. After viewing media, children will have a need to process this experience in different ways. For the benefit of the larger community we ask that you are mindful of this." Technology & Media Articles
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