The Lemur is publishing a selection of the most original, compelling, and persuasive final op-eds written in Fall 2025’s Public Policy 301: Political Analysis for Public Policy-Making, taught by Dr. Deondra Rose.
The Covid-19 pandemic was a tornado that spared nothing in its path, and the US education system was no exemption. Students suffered greatly from the change to virtual learning, which led to a post-pandemic learning crisis. Schools need to balance technology with low-tech practices that encourage students to develop ideas instead of robotically completing tasks. Students now often lack the ability to think deeply, learn collaboratively, and create freely in classrooms.
Switching to an online learning format increased kid’s distractions tenfold. Most schools provided children with laptops or tablets so they could join online classes. With this virtual format, distractions were sitting at kids’ fingertips. I remember having to check on my younger sister during virtual learning and finding her computer often in split screen mode: her email thread with friends on one panel and the Zoom classroom on another. The increasing reliance on technology prevents students from boredom and expanding their imagination.
The best thinking comes when kids are free from distractions. Removing distractions eliminates readymade topics and allows kids to have more control over their thoughts. During the pandemic, due to the stay-at-home-policies, kids spent a lot more time on social media apps like TikTok and Instagram. The problem with these apps is they use algorithms to suggest content it thinks users will like based on past activity. Thus, kids aren’t exposed to a diverse set of content and don’t benefit from the plethora of users with different backgrounds interacting with the app. It is important to embrace diversity as it helps to expand your worldview by learning from the different experiences of others. Additionally, constant external stimulation is exhausting and expends energy the mind could be using to find novel solutions to problems. Ensuring kids can take a break from technology and have space to practice creative thinking sets them up for future success.
During the pandemic, low-income students were disproportionately affected by distractions. Parents had to be involved with their kid’s learning to ensure they were doing their homework and not falling behind. For low-income families, this was a luxury they simply did not have as parents needed to work. These families relied increasingly on older siblings to assume a parental role and look after their younger siblings during school which burdens the older sibling. Teachers saw older siblings were less attentive in class as they were constantly checking in on and helping their younger siblings.
Furthermore, students need to put pencils to paper, not fingers to keyboards. Increasing use of technology does not support cognitive development. Handwriting engages a large network of brain regions involved in sensory, motor and cognitive processing. Typing is more passive cognitive engagement because it uses fewer neural circuits. Despite typing’s advantages in speed and convenience, handwriting should still be valued in schools as it is an important tool for learning and memory retention. Beyond the educational benefits, there is beauty in letting your mind wander on a page. The simple act of doodling in the corner of a notebook or writing down notes with different pen colors, encourages kids to think outside of the box and expand their imagination.
To encourage more creativity, schools should have mandatory periods of time for no-tech. In my high school, the first fifteen minutes of class was called Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) time. These were fifteen minutes every morning where, my world grew a little bit bigger, and I felt empowered. DEAR time can also mean kids draw on paper or create models with blocks. What’s important is that students are not using technology and dear time can occur in the beginning of the day or at the end, while students wait for their transportation home. Removing the shackles of technology encourages kids to push their mind to the limit and see what it can do.
With that, I also believe there should be more class discussions. Students need to engage in discourse with their peers about course content and other abstract ideas. Hearing from one another can spark ideas and expand student’s worldview as they learn from different students’ perspectives. Taking time to unplug and engage in human interaction is immensely important for fostering creativity as well.
A world without creativity would be bleak, but for many children it is their reality. Schools must make a change so that kids can understand the world is limitless, and there is so much out there if they would just look up from their screens.
by Hope Tiwang
