This petition seeks to advance the case for a voluntary opt-out for families of K-8 students in the Minnetonka School District who wish to forego student-issued iPad use in exchange for traditional learning tools, such as paper textbooks, worksheets, and screen-free instruments and methods. From digital learning to pen and paper.
In the Minnetonka School District, all students in Kindergarten through 12th grade receive a district-issued iPad as part of the District's 1:1 iPad Program. The iPads are a central feature of students' day-to-day work, and are the primary tool through which students conduct the majority of in-school work and homework.
The introduction of iPads into the American educational system was heralded almost universally as not only advantageous, but necessary in order to meet the demands of the 21st century. The results are now in. According to Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, cognitive neuroscientist and author of "The Digital Delusion," Gen Z "is the first generation in modern history to underperform us in basically every cognitive measure we have, from basic attention to literacy, to numeracy, to executive functioning and even general IQ...." Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (the nation's "report card") reveals a downward trajectory since around 2010, which coincides with the widespread use of digital technology in classrooms.
Dr. Horvath observes that “[a] lot of schools have 1-to-1 laptop programs where every kid is given a MacBook.... But we don’t learn well from these things. I mean, we don’t read well off of them. We don’t write well on them. We don’t think deeply when we’re using them."
This petition does not seek to ban iPads across the board. It merely advances the case for a policy of allowing individual student and family iPad opt-out. Please sign the petition if you agree with this proposed policy change.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
April 25, 2026
43 Comments
Opt out!
Take YouTube off the iPads at least!! Get back to paper/ pencil. Kids retain information better when writing… it’s sad when your 4th grader complains that their hand hurts from writing because they haven’t built up the muscles from writing in the early years! My 7th grader is addicted to his iPad and finds ways to get to games… this creates battles at home.
Please give this option. It is so important for child development.
This is so important!
Parents have real power when we come together. Once you slow down and take a long look at the effects of iPads, screen time, etc on learning, social, emotional, health, and well-being of our children and hear from other parents about their experiences, you begin to realize the enormity of what we've allowed to happen to our children. Thank you for organizing this effort.
So I talked with some teachers at MME about kids playing on their iPads during class instead of studying. My son had been called out by several teachers for this. Two teachers who were more tech oriented set up Apple's education software so they could see every iPad screen in the room on their computer. If a kid started playing games or whatever - the teacher could call them out instantly. But the school wasn't interested in having this set up for all of the teachers. So my son was playing games in all of his classes. He happens to be a very quick learner so his grades were still all "As." But he got addicted to playing games or doing whatever he wanted while at school. He came home and would get upset as we wouldn't let him do this at home. Most of the teachers I spoke with said they just gave up policing the kids and their iPads as it was too difficult - and half of the class were non-stop playing in class. This is not student focused education. This is 100% administration focused education.
no ipad
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This petition seeks to advance the case for a voluntary opt-out for families of K-8 students in the Minnetonka School District who wish to forego student-issued iPad use in exchange for traditional learning tools, such as paper textbooks, worksheets, and screen-free instruments and methods. From digital learning to pen and paper.
In the Minnetonka School District, all students in Kindergarten through 12th grade receive a district-issued iPad as part of the District's 1:1 iPad Program. The iPads are a central feature of students' day-to-day work, and are the primary tool through which students conduct the majority of in-school work and homework.
The introduction of iPads into the American educational system was heralded almost universally as not only advantageous, but necessary in order to meet the demands of the 21st century. The results are now in. According to Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, cognitive neuroscientist and author of "The Digital Delusion," Gen Z "is the first generation in modern history to underperform us in basically every cognitive measure we have, from basic attention to literacy, to numeracy, to executive functioning and even general IQ...." Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (the nation's "report card") reveals a downward trajectory since around 2010, which coincides with the widespread use of digital technology in classrooms.
Dr. Horvath observes that “[a] lot of schools have 1-to-1 laptop programs where every kid is given a MacBook.... But we don’t learn well from these things. I mean, we don’t read well off of them. We don’t write well on them. We don’t think deeply when we’re using them."
This petition does not seek to ban iPads across the board. It merely advances the case for a policy of allowing individual student and family iPad opt-out. Please sign the petition if you agree with this proposed policy change.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
April 25, 2026
43 Comments
My 3rd grader is distracted all day long because of that screen. kids need to learn how to write on real paper and use actual books. let us choose the old school way please.
Opt out!
Take YouTube off the iPads at least!! Get back to paper/ pencil. Kids retain information better when writing… it’s sad when your 4th grader complains that their hand hurts from writing because they haven’t built up the muscles from writing in the early years! My 7th grader is addicted to his iPad and finds ways to get to games… this creates battles at home.
Please give this option. It is so important for child development.
This is so important!
Parents have real power when we come together. Once you slow down and take a long look at the effects of iPads, screen time, etc on learning, social, emotional, health, and well-being of our children and hear from other parents about their experiences, you begin to realize the enormity of what we've allowed to happen to our children. Thank you for organizing this effort.
So I talked with some teachers at MME about kids playing on their iPads during class instead of studying. My son had been called out by several teachers for this. Two teachers who were more tech oriented set up Apple's education software so they could see every iPad screen in the room on their computer. If a kid started playing games or whatever - the teacher could call them out instantly. But the school wasn't interested in having this set up for all of the teachers. So my son was playing games in all of his classes. He happens to be a very quick learner so his grades were still all "As." But he got addicted to playing games or doing whatever he wanted while at school. He came home and would get upset as we wouldn't let him do this at home. Most of the teachers I spoke with said they just gave up policing the kids and their iPads as it was too difficult - and half of the class were non-stop playing in class. This is not student focused education. This is 100% administration focused education.
no ipad
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My 3rd grader is distracted all day long because of that screen. kids need to learn how to write on real paper and use actual books. let us choose the old school way please.