Taught by Humans, Not Screens

Human relationships are at the heart of everything we do at Pasadena Waldorf School.

“Today, as many as 99 percent of teachers work at schools that provide laptops or tablets to K–12 students, who then spend a daily average of 98 minutes on screens at school, navigating a jaw-dropping average of 48 unique digital tools annually. Yet academic achievement continues its freefall,” writes Meredith Coffey in the article “Logged In, Tuned Out” from the journal Education Next. In her reporting, Coffey describes how the introduction of educational technology has dramatically altered both the curriculum and the classroom experience while sidelining the real human-to-human interactions that drive meaningful learning.

At Pasadena Waldorf School, we put humans at the heart of everything we do. We foster strong and trusting relationships between teachers and students through intentionally small class sizes, a low teacher-to-student ratio, and stable class cohorts that allow our faculty to get to know each student individually. Our skilled teachers don’t rely on laptops and digital games to engage their students, but take time to prepare lessons that are responsive to the unique talents, interests, and challenges of their class. 

Importantly, we introduce technology gradually and intentionally. In early childhood and elementary school we don’t use tech in the classroom and encourage PWS families to limit digital media at home, placing the emphasis firmly on real-world experiences and relationships. In middle and high school, tech is introduced in STEM classes and for research and creative projects; yet screen-based teaching never replaces creative, critical, and human-to-human instruction.

We teach this way because it is effective. Strong teacher-student relationships are correlated with student success across a wide range of indicators—from reading comprehension skills to consistent attendance. And by learning to listen, to work with others, and to build trusting relationships with both adults and peers, our students grow into uniquely well-rounded human beings, prepared to thrive in an increasingly digital world.