Beata Safari of NYC Bar Association testifies on screen time tracking and homework gaps
Beata Safari of the NYC Bar Association's Technology Committee raises questions about who tracks cumulative screen time across multiple teachers, the gap between school and home screen time limits, and whether remote learning requirements conflict with banning home devices.
Good afternoon, chairs and members of the committees.
My name is Beata Safari, and I'm secretary of the New York City Bar Association's Technology, Cyber, and Privacy Law Committee.
We are grateful that the city is taking a careful approach to AI and technology.
As the proud daughter of a public high school music teacher, I particularly appreciate this opportunity to speak with you today.
One-to-one screen time is defined as the cumulative amount of time a student directly interacts with a computer or a tablet, presumably during the regular instructional school day, regardless of the subject or the teacher.
Since there's no guidance on what subject matter or teacher should be assigning the screen time, it appears that schools are tasked with establishing a method for monitoring and doling out the cumulative student exposure.
Since these screen times are recommended, or somewhat required, according to the testimony today, are teachers being given relative autonomy to decide when to offer that time in the classroom?
According to reporting from the Daily News earlier this week, Chancellor Kamar Samuels told reporters that these daily limits should be a, quote,
guide post.
The idea is, what's the spirit of reducing screen time?
End quote.
Chancellor Samuel's point doesn't directly answer the question about who should be responsible for tracking the time.
Additionally, while teachers may still be following the spirit of the policy even if they go over or under on certain days, even if students are limited in screen time at school, there is no such prohibition on the amount of screen time students are permitted at home,
as First Deputy Chancellor has testified.
So this is another gap.
The policy directly regulates only school-controlled screen time, but not screen-based homework.
For grades 3 through 8, that's potentially significant.
A school could conceivably comply with the in-school recommendation while assigning substantial digital homework every night, which would be contrary to the heart of the guidance.
Chairs, you mentioned wanting to ban one-to-one devices at home as well for K-5.
How is this possible if remote learning is required?
So I think you should also be thinking about and discussing whether you should only have snow days and do away with weather-related remote working and homework as well.
Thanks so much.