News & Press Releases

“Daring” 2nd Grade Experiment in Self-Discipline Deemed a Success

Boldly going where no one has gone before (at least in the “ICS universe”), Mrs. Rago’s 2nd grade class went “unplugged” from communication and entertainment technology for an entire school week, from March 21st – March 25th. The event was called “Unplugged! Technology’s Ultimate Challenge: Live Without it for a Week.” Considering the world our children live in today, Mrs. Rago’s exercise was no small undertaking. Consider this:

In January 2010, The Henry Kaiser Family Foundation released a report on how much time children and teens are spending with TV, video games, and computers that should get every parent’s attention. According to the report, “Today, 8-18 year-olds devote an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes to using entertainment media across a typical day (more than 53 hours a week).” This childhood and adolescent exposure to electronic entertainment and communication has increased significantly in the past five years, a direct correlation to the deluge of new electronic gadgets hitting the marketplace – and parents’ management of their children’s interaction with them.

This challenging exercise in self-discipline came about when Mrs. Rago learned of a similar experiment in which a friend’s child was recently involved. So her ICS 2nd graders agreed to not use the phone or computer, watch TV or movies, or play video games for five…whole…days.

Instead of the kids reporting to the Xbox or PlayStation or Internet at home whenever possible, Mrs. Rago’s optional recreational or otherwise constructive activities included reading, writing stories, playing outside (what a concept!), making up songs, cleaning the bedroom or house, practicing flash cards, riding bikes, playing musical instruments – any recreational activity that did not require an electrical outlet or wireless network card. For these five “throwback” days at school, the Rago 2nd graders didn’t listen to stories on the CD player, use the SmartBoard or classroom computers, or visit the ICS computer lab. They couldn’t even use electric pencil sharpeners!

To model the desired behavior of denying oneself these modern-day electrical impulses, Mrs. Rago went unplugged, too. She was not permitted to text, email personal messages, use her home computer, listen to her iPod, use electronic gym equipment, or watch television.

So, how did it go?

“The kids who participated really enjoyed it,” she recounts. “I think it represents proof that kids can find enjoyable things to do other than just sitting and watching TV and playing video games.”

She adds, “The kids who didn’t participate were bragging throughout the week but were not happy when they didn’t receive an invitation to meet me at the movies” (to watch “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”), which was the reward for making it through the week. Mrs. Rago says that her students’ parents initially seemed excited about this unique exercise in self-discipline, but she didn’t hear much in the way of summary comments from them once the week was over. No doubt the project was challenging for the whole household.

Mrs. Rago has a personal confession to make about going unplugged for five working days: “I didn’t like it! I was bored! But, my house was super clean and I did spend a lot of time outside.” And then there was this: “I was much less stressed throughout the week,” she admits. “I also discovered that driving without the radio or CD player on was harder on my daughter than me because I had to sing to her.” (Poor Hadley may never be the same.)

Mrs. Rago is so pleased with the results of the Unplugged Challenge that she plans to repeat it next school year. However, she intends to tweak the rules just a bit. Probably the part about the teacher’s participation….

Posted Mon Apr 19 at 10:48 am