The Analog Option — Education Petition

“Limit screen use by assigning work in books or on paper whenever possible.”

— U.S. Surgeon General's Warning, May 20, 2026 *

Our Position

This petition invites parents to formally request an analog education option for their children — one where parents may opt out of school-issued personal devices for their children; additionally, physical books & paper will be used whenever possible in place of digital resources.

A child sitting under a tree, reading a book

"The hand is the instrument of the mind."
— Maria Montessori

Technology in classrooms has expanded dramatically in the last 10 years. And yet the skills that matter most — reading deeply, thinking critically, communicating clearly — are best developed away from screens, apps, and digital tools. We recognize that technology has a place in modern life. We are not here to take it away. We are simply asking for a pathway — a choice — for families who believe their children learn better when they are more present in the physical world, interacting with pencils that sharpen and pages that turn. We don't want to take away ed-tech from those who want it. We just want the option to opt out.

What We're Asking For

Parents may opt out of school-issued personal devices — enrolled children will not be assigned their own device, and analog alternatives will always be available (e.g. physical workbooks)
Physical materials — printed textbooks, paper, and pencils — are the primary learning tools in place of digital resources
Homework assigned on paper unless a digital format is essential to the learning outcome

Sign the petition to add your voice. Every signature tells Oak Ridge Schools: parents are paying attention.

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Oak Ridge Parents Have Signed

Goal: 200 signatures

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Questions or Comments?

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Evidence to Consider

EPPC — Getting Screens Out of Schools — Policy analysis finding that 1:1 device saturation may worsen attention, retention, and academic performance.
ScienceDirect — Devices & Achievement — Academic research questioning whether increased device access actually improves student outcomes.
University of Tokyo, 2021 — Paper vs. Devices: Brain Activation & Memory — Peer-reviewed study in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience using brain scans (fMRI) found significantly stronger memory recall and brain activity in students who used paper notebooks vs. tablets or smartphones. Paper users also completed note-taking 25% faster. Lead researcher noted: "High school students' brains are still developing and are so much more sensitive than adult brains" — making the case for paper especially relevant in K-12.
OECD PISA 2022 — Main Results — International data from 700,000 students across 81 countries showing unprecedented declines in reading and math. The OECD explicitly identified "limit the distractions caused by using digital devices in class" as a key lesson from the world's highest-performing education systems.
U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory: Warning on the Harms of Screen Use — The Surgeon General's official advisory specifically recommends that schools: make individually-accessible devices available in a computer lab rather than assigning personal devices; invest in physical textbooks and prioritize pen-and-paper curricula, hands-on activities, and social activities at all grade levels; limit screen use by assigning work in books or on paper whenever possible; teach digital citizenship and literacy as part of health education; and create awareness around cyberbullying and its harms. This is precisely the analog option we are asking for.
Horvath Written Testimony — U.S. Senate Commerce Committee — Expert written testimony submitted to the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee addressing the harms of technology and screen use, with policy recommendations relevant to school device programs.