Is Technology in Education Causing Child / Parent Stress?

After only eight days of school, our two middle school children are bogged down with multiple projects, lengthy reading expectations and nightly homework in multiple subjects. After arriving home at 4PM, our children immediately hit the books and read, study, research and complete homework until 9:30PM or later. There is a disconnect occurring between parents and children who have so much homework to complete that home chores, interaction and family time are pushed to the back burner. Replacing social communication are deadlines, research projects, reading lists, quizzes and tests.

The Link Between Technology and Parent / Child Stress

Researching online is quicker and easier than walking, riding or driving to the local library and searching through books, magazines and microfiche. Children of today need only a personal computer and Internet connection to gain access to the largest library ever created, but does that mean teachers are becoming more dependent on the Internet as a resource and thus expecting children to do more outside of school than in previous years and generations?

Technology has a fantastic place in education and the school system, but when expectations outside of school hours become so overpowering that children are left with no down time and no time with family without worrying about deadlines and grades, there is a disconnect that will occur between parents and children.

How Our Family is Dealing With Increased Expectation and Technology

As a family, we are tired of spending five days a week working full-time only to be responsible for all chores in a household of six people. Chores are important to teach children responsibility and no advances in technology or outrageous educational expectations will replace that fact. We are working with our children on choosing project themes that require no Internet access or detailed research. Just because the Internet is available does not mean it is the best source of information.

We will soon begin walking to the library a couple of days a week so our older children can work with media hands on as opposed to virtually. Research days for projects will be limited to one to two days a week and no school work is allowed on Sundays - our family's day of rest and relaxation together without expectation.