Our stories
These are real experiences from New Paltz families, in their own words. Excerpted for length, otherwise unchanged.
One account below describes a child's accidental exposure to pornography on a school device, in the parent's own words.
Homework around the table with conversation and connection disappeared.
Going from 5th to 6th grade was a shock. Homework around the table with conversation and connection disappeared and was replaced by a personal device that pulled our child's attention into an isolated world. Though we only allowed him to use his Chromebook for homework, short assignments kept him on his device far longer because distraction was just a click away. This created a very negative dynamic in our family because we were pushed to police time on the Chromebook and question whether he was working on homework at all. He became resentful of that, and it created a power struggle that we do not want in our home.
A New Paltz parent
One night, about 2am, my husband opened the door and found our son on the Chromebook, watching YouTube videos.
When our son was given a Chromebook at the Middle School, we were assured by the administration that he would have no free access to the internet. We trusted the administration. Into the school year, we started to notice changes in our son's personality. He stopped joyfully practicing piano in the mornings, he stopped drawing spontaneously, and he started complaining about constant tiredness. One night, about 2am, my husband got up to take a glass of water and noticed a bleak light through the door to our son's room. He opened the door and found our son on the Chromebook, watching YouTube videos. From that point, we stopped trusting the school and got a lock box. Our son started slowly to wake up back to life. But how many kids will never wake up?
A New Paltz parent
Our child often cannot answer very simple questions or recall information about the content.
During sixth grade, our once happy, social, and curious child became increasingly distracted and confused by video and game-based homework assignments. When assigned a video or an instructional game for homework, we have noticed that afterward our child often cannot answer very simple questions or recall information about the content. Yet when we explain a concept, or have our child read from a physical book, there is not an issue with comprehension.
A New Paltz parent
When they finish their math in the app, they get to play games as a reward.
One day my 3rd grader wanted to show me their math work in the app they use in their classroom. They logged in, did a few math problems, and then were instantly taken to a racecar game, which surprised me. When I asked them what they were doing, they said that when they finish their math in the app, they get to play games as a reward. This shocked me, but I didn't feel comfortable talking with their teacher about it, because I didn't want to negatively challenge a teacher.
A New Paltz parent
For the past three months our child had been playing computer games for hours in the middle of the night, without our knowledge.
When my oldest child received their Chromebook at the beginning of 6th grade, I did not think much of it. I assumed that since it is a school device, it must be safe. At the end of 7th grade, we discovered that a friend had shown them how to get around the school's filters. When we looked at the device's history for the first time, we saw that for the past three months our child had been playing computer games for hours in the middle of the night, on most nights, without our knowledge. We have twice asked the district for two simple things: the ability to check our kids' Chromebook histories from our own computer, and the ability to lock other accounts out of each kid's device. We have been told no both times.
A New Paltz parent
My child was 11 at the time.
My child participated in a digital literacy assignment in class in which students were directed to access websites on topics that interested them and determine which ones were reliable sources of information. Students were typing in names of celebrities they wanted to learn about and then adding ".com" after the name. My child accidentally misspelled the name of the celebrity they were searching for and landed on a website with dozens and dozens of pornographic thumbnail images. The images were explicit, hardcore pornography featuring women and groups of women being penetrated in a variety of ways. My child was 11 at the time.
The Student Acceptable Use Policy that parents sign at the start of each school year states "It is virtually impossible to completely prevent access to content or material that may be considered inappropriate for students." This is not acceptable to me. Children will continue to be unintentionally exposed to pornography as long as they are given internet connected devices. We should not consent to our children being potentially exposed to pornographic material as a condition of attending school.
A New Paltz parent
By 7th grade he was no longer reading books, drawing, or playing his musical instrument.
In 6th grade, when my son got his Chromebook, the trouble started. We pushed him constantly to put it down and eat dinner or go outside. We then took it away and began hiding it. He would find it and we would hide it again. By 7th grade he was no longer reading books, drawing, or playing his musical instrument. He has now quit the school band and finds most activities boring. As a parent, I no longer want the Chromebook in my house.
A New Paltz parent
The constant access to Chromebooks competes with the learning environment and makes staying on task far more challenging.
As a parent to a child who has ADHD, I have seen how damaging the reliance on Chromebook usage in schools, including homework, is on a neurodivergent child. Whether it's playing unblocked video games, working on whatever slideshow of memes friends are circulating, or googling topics that capture his interest, the constant access to Chromebooks competes with the learning environment and makes staying on task far more challenging. I support technology literacy in a balanced and thoughtful way. I just wish the school district would acknowledge and take action against the harms that constant screen access does to kids, including the most vulnerable students.
A New Paltz parent, middle school
We're teaching them that it's OK to be distracted, and this is obviously a terrible way to learn.
As a college instructor, I see first hand what happens when students arrive at college. My daughter is tasked with completing work on her Chromebook and ends up opening different tabs, playing games, and being places she probably shouldn't be while doing homework. Yes, there are restrictions in place, but we all know they can get around them easily. This ends up coming to college with them, where they think they need a computer to take their notes and end up scrolling social media, playing games, and watching shows during class. What are we doing? We're teaching them that it's OK to be distracted, and this is obviously a terrible way to learn.
A New Paltz parent
Has this been your family's experience? Tell us about it. We can keep it anonymous or use just your first name, and we never publish a child's name. Even a few sentences helps another parent realize they are not the only one.