From the Association of Parents of the Instituto Arratia Small Tram we want to encourage reflection on the use of screens in the learning community.

Lately there is a lot of concern about the impact of screens on children and adolescents. This responsibility extends from domestic use to use in schools and institutes.

For years, a lot of money has been used to equip schools with devices, but the need for reflection on their use is becoming more and more evident in society. If we look at Europe, we can see that digitisation plans are being studied. In fact, in countries where significant investments have been made, no improvement in learning outcomes has been observed, in addition to a decline in reading comprehension among students.

We are also concerned as parents, and we see a need for reflection and discussion on the use of devices that include families and the school. Currently, the students of the Institute are given a device as soon as they enter the center. They use it in most lessons, and even homework is often accompanied by a computer. The devices have no control over content or time, which causes problems in many homes. Even in the use of the center, we miss the objectives and the concrete follow-up.

Parents are not against screens. We need to build digital skills. That is, that our children must learn how to use the devices in a safe, healthy, sustainable, critical and responsible way.

To do this, the devices must be configured before being transmitted to the students. On the one hand, measures should be put in place to avoid content that is inappropriate for the age of the students. On the other hand, it is necessary to limit their use so that they do not use them for too long.

According to experts, between the ages of 12 and 17 there should be at most two hours in front of the screen. In fact, our children, taking into account their age and development, can not make a responsible use, neither in time nor in the selection of contents. In addition, it becomes a source of distraction even when they are involved in other activities.

In addition, we believe that our children and young people should be educated in the use of screens so that they can act with critical thinking and be trained in responsible use.

In terms of sustainability, we must make students aware of the enormous footprint left by the disproportionate realization of the devices, as well as their own use.

Regardless of the screens, studies indicate that manual writing and the use of analog supports have advantages in memory and attention. They have also been found to be better for the development of abstract thinking and motivation. This does not mean that the screens must be completely ignored, but that they must be used consciously. We ask the Institute to determine when and for what purpose they will be used, to detect when they have added value, and to use them wisely taking into account the development and characteristics of the students.

This article is one more step in this process of reflection.

In November 2024, we sent the following request to the Arratia Institute:

• That the devices they bring home (Chromebooks) have a control to prevent them from accessing inappropriate content.
• Use the devices only in school when they do not have this control.
• Reflection on the use of the Chromebook in school, and detailed follow-up.

Those who signed in support of this petition:

Head up Arratia Arratia
Manconumitate Prevention Department
Small Tram Arratia IES Parents’ Association Igor School Parents’ Association Zeanuri School Parents’ Association Arenal School Parents’ Association Dima School Parents’ Association




Dima School Parents’ Association
Small Tram Partners More than 70 families

Board of Directors of the Small Tram Parents Association