Crane School Blog: Focus on Learning

Featuring articles written by Crane Staffulty

For more information about Crane Country Day School, please contact admission@craneschool.org or call 805-969-7732 x127.

Day of Unplugging
Sarah Lopez

At the beginning of the year, when I first mention Crane's Day of Unplugging, students nod in agreement and understanding. In class discussions, students agree it's a good idea to unplug, generally seeing the day as "no big deal." As we edge closer to Friday, February 21, Crane's technology-free day, the attitude begins to shift and groans and complaints emanate from Upper School students. Questions and concerns bubble up to the surface...

At the beginning of the year, when I first mention Crane's Day of Unplugging, students nod in agreement and understanding. In class discussions, students agree it's a good idea to unplug, generally seeing the day as "no big deal." As we edge closer to Friday, February 21, Crane's technology-free day, the attitude begins to shift and groans and complaints emanate from Upper School students. Questions and concerns bubble up to the surface:

"Can I just bring my laptop to school?"
"Do I have to unplug at home?"
"Do my parents have to unplug?"
"How will I call my mom? I don't know her number!"

While no one wants to consider, much less admit the possibility of a device or social media addiction, people of all ages wrestle with contemplating a day without their device appendage. Studies remind us it is a universal issue with statistics that include, "84% of cell phone users claim they could not go a single day without their device," and "88% of U.S. consumers use mobile devices as a second screen even while watching television."

In addition to research confirming the adverse effects of persistent plugging in, a psychological disorder is identified as a result of feeling that someone or something is more interesting than what is currently going on in one's life. With the steady stream of pictures, videos, and captions on Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, and other social media platforms, many individuals fall victim to FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).

Contrary to what you might hear from your child, Crane's Day of Unplugging is a day to recapture the idea of living in the moment. A day to shut out the noise and distractions of Google, desktop pictures, notifications, text messages from family and friends, and to physically be free from devices. Unplugging may be a bit of a shock to students. Still, we hope our community benefits from a day without technology, and individuals will take the opportunity to share these benefits with families.

Sarah Lopez
Technology Specialist & Laptop Coordinator

Most Recent Posts

Outdoor Learning Space

Crane School’s 11-acre campus is most definitely a highlight for those who visit. The balance of nature and buildings, and the natural flow as one moves through campus is welcoming and enchanting. Students, parents, and Staffulty (staff and faculty) can all agree that the campus is thoughtfully designed and carefully maintained. When asking Staffulty about their favorite spot on campus, the vast majority name an outdoor space, but as there are so many to choose from, they don’t all share the same favorite. They can all pinpoint just what it is that makes it their favorite:

“Walking through Crane’s amazing garden is the best way to start my day. It’s a beautiful reminder to take in the beauty that’s all around us.

“Our fields are really magical spaces...”

Choice Voice Image

Choice at Crane School is seen at each grade level in varying forms and amounts. It could be Choice Time at the end of the day in kindergarten, Choice Boards in first grade for extra learning opportunities, Passion Projects in fourth grade, the seventh grade mentor project (QED), or an eighth grader’s public speaking topic. No matter what age, choice brings excitement. Choice is like the shiny, colorful bait that lures the fish and reels it in toward the ultimate goal - in this case, learning. When it comes to our Crane motto of rigor and joy, choice is the joy piece that makes deep, meaningful learning so much fun and memorable...

2020-09-15-FonLGoal

The beginning of the school year brings excitement, stirs up nerves, and offers a fresh start. There is anticipation of the new possibilities and seeing familiar faces again. Some nerves in the form of butterflies appear as students wonder about the unknowns. It is certainly a new beginning for all, which can be recognized by a pristine white school planner, the colorful stylus in a school supplies case, or a new name tag to make a student’s learning space their own...

Reinhart Koselleck

Of the many odd things that I studied in graduate school, none was more engaging to me than the intersections between the history of medicine and the history of political thought. At the time I thought this was interesting on its own merits. I could never have guessed that in 2020, the politics of medicine would become critically relevant. I should like to reflect one those intersections and to explain how they inform my instruction of students in United States history...