Middle School Finishes “Disconnect From Tech” Challenge
For the week of November 18th middle school dean of student life, Rich Billing along with a group of 8th grade students issued a challenge to the rest of the middle school. Unplug from your devices for the week and focus your attention on relationships and other activities. “While students may not elect to totally disconnect, the goal for each student is to spend significantly less time using technology throughout the week. In turn, we hope that they will see the benefit and the importance of taking a break from the overwhelming tide of technology,” says Billing.
In the assembly announcing the challenge, the 8th grade students talked about their own experiences with technology and how we can all benefit from taking time away from it. They also gave the student body several suggestions on how to use the time that has been freed up from using technology less.
58.4% of middle school students participated in the Disconnect From Tech Challenge. “The week was successful, and I was really able to spend more time with my family. It was really hard to disconnect in the car because I have a long drive. This challenge really helped me realize how much time I spend on my phone daily”, said one eighth grade student. “It was a weird week. I had a lot of extra free time. I was usually getting an extra hour or two of sleep. I also got my homework done a lot quicker and earlier. Finally, I talked to my parents more and enjoyed nature. Overall it was a good experience.”
