Can Technology Wait?

Despite everything we are learning about the possibilities for technology in the classroom, we know that not everyone is on board for digitizing schools. This NY Times article talks about the Waldorf School, a private school in Silicon Valley. They believe that computers and technology get in the way of education and do not allow it in the school at all - not a single television, computer, iPad, or cell phone. This may seem shocking, especially given the recent push for technology in the classroom, but the Waldorf School feels as though there is no place for technology in schools and even discourages parents from exposing students to it at home - at least until they get a little older.

The article is clear about the fact that there is no proof that students learn better without technology, although there isn't really any that students learn better with it either. It also points out that this is a very expensive, elite private school, which tells us a lot about the kind of students that go there and what kinds of backgrounds they come from. We also know that they don't take standardized tests, and they admit that they'd probably do poorly on them anyway since they don't teach many skills drilled on those tests. The bottom line of the article seems to be that this is simply an alternative for parents (who can afford it) who believe that their children need to be engaged in their education without depending on technological devices.

I think we would all agree that this is not the right approach to take in today's world, when everyone is so dependent on technology; still, the idea has it's merits, especially when it comes to the value of face-to-face interaction and hands-on learning. I also really appreciate the idea of slowly integrating technology into a child's life as they get older, althought I'm not sure how realistic that really is or if it's even beneficial. I believe the best approach is to find some kind of middle ground, but I am interested to hear your reactions to the article.