Recently, residents of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, have called on the city's mayor to ban electronic screens in schools and reinstate blackboards, arguing screen-based instruction and learning is causing eye fatigue and vision problems among students. 

Concerns about electronic screens are not new. Last year, parents in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, suggested reducing the amount of time elementary school students spend on electronic screens in the classroom.

Additionally, starting this semester, an elementary school in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, has begun eliminating electronic screens from all classes every Friday morning, and teachers are prohibited from using courseware.

While some parents are becoming more concerned about the use of screens, others argue their use is an unstoppable trend, as they can greatly enhance teaching efficiency. Moreover, the use of electronic screens does not necessarily result in myopia among students. The key is to strike a balance between the convenience of multimedia devices and the protection of students' eyesight.

Xiang Xiangrong (Tidenews.com.cn): Whether electronic screens affect eyesight depends on multiple factors: Different screen parameters have varying impacts; the viewing distance and duration of use also play roles. Generally speaking, it is not recommended for children to stare at electronic screens continuously for more than 15 minutes.

The synergy between education and technology is an inevitable trend and electronic screens serve as highly effective teaching aids. For instance, when explaining geometric shapes, teachers can use screens to display multi-angle views of the figures. Similarly, in teaching geographical phenomena or historical events, electronic screens present content far more vividly than textbooks ever could. As auxiliary tools in modern education, multimedia devices like electronic screens help overcome the limitations of traditional classrooms while enhancing both teaching efficiency and students' learning experience.

Schools can take measures to mitigate the negative impact of electronic screens on students' eyesight. For example, they can replace screens with poor clarity and significant glare with higher-quality, eye-protective products featuring low blue light emission and flicker-free technology. There should also be a proper schedule for screen usage to avoid prolonged continuous use. A document issued by the Ministry of Education limits screen time for teaching to 30 percent of total lesson time. Despite potential drawbacks, the advantages of this technology remain clear.

Hu Qi'an (gmw.cn): The overuse of electronic screens, which are now constantly vying for children's attention, can create an over-reliance and even diminish teacher-student interaction.

While the prevalence of eye fatigue among students using electronic screens is a legitimate concern, it's improper to place all the blame on the technology itself.

Electronic screens are just one tool in the multimedia toolbox of modern education. They are neither inherently good nor bad, much like the smartphones we are widely using today. Today's teaching has evolved far beyond the days of blackboards and chalk. Used appropriately, new technologies can enrich resources, expand perspectives and stimulate students' minds. Many parents' aversion to screens stems from schools' mandates for teachers to use multimedia exclusively. This practice can be refined, but not to be rejected entirely.

A positive attitude is one that embraces sound pedagogy, puts student needs first and utilizes all tools, including screens, in evidence-based ways. The right path forward is to take advantage of new technologies, but not to reject them just because of certain drawbacks, especially when the negative impacts can be minimized if they are properly used. BR 

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson

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