School Chromebooks have been in use for years now, which means screen time for students is gradually increasing. Daily, students get about 1 to 4+ hours of screen time. Screen time is shown to be lower in Elementary school and increases in middle school, leading to misuse and distractions that cause students to stop doing their work, which teachers are concerned about. It is often said that the less screen time there is, the better mental health will be, but for Elkins High School, some teachers think differently.

Some teachers here at Elkins High School use Chromebooks, and some prefer paperwork due to it being “easier to grade,” and sometimes the internet shuts off and doesn’t come back on, which leaves students with doing paperwork or missing work for the day.

Due to the amount of screen time students get, it can eventually cause eye strain, poor posture, and sleep disruption for people who actively look at a screen for long periods of time. “Sometimes you have to disconnect to stay connected,” says Regina Brett, an American author, inspirational speaker, and newspaper columnist. “We may have to exercise discipline to use the controls we have, but we are not slaves to these devices unless we allow ourselves to become so,” says Dr. Edward Hallowell, an American psychiatrist, speaker, and New York Times best-selling author.

We allow ourselves to be addicted to our screens, which is why screen time hours keep increasing in schools, and it can even influence our home lives. It is important to take breaks from screens from time to time and let yourself relax.