Radnor Schools Encouraging Community To Unplug From Electronics

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA — Do you find you and your family staring into screens too often? If so, Radnor Township School District invites you to join a day of going screenless.

On Monday, March 2, the school district community will participate in the National Day of Unplugging.

All Radnor students, staff members, parents, guardians, and community members are encouraged to set aside their devices and take a break from screens.

A range of activities are planned to help celebrate and facilitate participation in the event.

Participants need not "unplug" for the entire day.

Community members can show their support for the Day of Unplugging in various ways:

• taking a pledge to unplug from technology at the National Day of Unplugging website here;
• printing and completing the official poster stating your reason for unplugging and posting a photo to social media using #RadnorUnplugs prior to March 2;
• playing Day of Unplugging Bingo by March 6 (download the bingo card here and submit completed cards to radnorunplugs@rtsd.org by March 6);
• printing and displaying the official RTSD Day of Unplugging poster;
• and talking to friends and family about their relationship with technology using conversation prompts
  • Use the questions provided by the National Day of Unplugging to discuss the impact of technology on your life and the lives of those closest to you.
    • How important is your phone/tablet/computer to you on a scale of 1 to 10? How does this make you feel?
    • When do you turn off your devices? If the answer "I don't," why?
    • What is the longest amount of time you’ve been "unplugged" (phone, online, TV)? How did you feel? How do you think society's manners and acceptable behaviors have changed with the ever-present cell phone/iPad?
    • How much time do you spend on media each day? Do you think that is enough or too much?
    • Have you ever been ignored by someone on a phone or other digital device? Have you ever ignored someone when you've been on a phone or digital device?
    • What are you not doing when you are on technology instead?
    • When you are not on technology do you feel like there is anything you are missing out on?
    • Do you feel like you are in control of the time you spend on your digital device or that your digital device is controlling your time?
    • How does your use of technology impact your relationships, both positively and negatively? Are there areas you want to change?
    • Do you want to change your behavior around technology? How do you think you can do that?

The Radnor Township School District recognizes the need to promote responsible and safe use of technology while harnessing its positives.

As part a district-wide study of technology last year, the district established a goal of examining ways to impart the importance of mindful technology use for students and staff.

Email radnorunplugs@rtsd.org for more information about National Day of Unplugging event.