KIRTLAND, Ohio — Screens.
Your phone, your television and even laptop -- they're everywhere.
But Kirtland Middle School is going screen free all this week.
The weeklong experiment was an idea presented by the Student Leadership Council, a group of nearly 20 middle schoolers who focus on student engagement and positive change.
"We were talking about technology, and during that conversation with our tech director we asked them if they're sick and tired of their Chromebooks. They immediately shot their hands up into the air," said Principal Bob Race.
The challenge extends to administrators, students and their families, with everyone being able define what the challenge means for them.
"It's just a simple pledge that they're going to try their best not to use any devices for the internet to get on social media," explained Principal Rice.
The overall goal is to help introduce students to healthier habits and limit the impacts of continued screen usage.
"I think everybody's enjoyed just kind of having a new way to learn and a new way to interact with each other," said 12-year-old Ben Trem, a member of the Student Leadership Council that helped to green light the experiment. "I think that's good for everybody just 'cause they'll interact a little bit more with their families and just be able to have different opportunities and try new things with the no screens."
Race has nearly 20 years of teaching experience, but in his first year as principal, he's excited to lead change and thankful to have teachers who were eager to get on board with the experiment.
"They've taken things that they could've done with their computers and they've brought it into a paper and pencil format, or hands-on labs," explained Race.
A proponent of blended learning, Principal Race said this week is about equipping students with all of the skills they need to be successful throughout life.
"We're not going away from the 21st century. We're stepping into it, but we still need to make sure that, you know, we're teaching the kids the other executive functioning skills," said Race. "The face-to-face, the hands-on manipulating, the creativity that comes without looking at somebody on a screen and what they've already done. All of those things, I think, would benefit all students in all grade levels."
Principal Race said he hopes the middle school is just the beginning. He told 3News that he’s already talked with the elementary and high schools in hope of making screen-free week a district-wide initiative.