Hugh Grant is echoing the worry of every parent in today’s generation. According to The Telegraph, the actor is working towards navigating the screen time kids get at school. He reportedly collaborated with American social psychologist Dr Jonathan Haidt to remove EdTech and smartphones from the classroom. At a recent event, he called out the children’s “posh private schools” for swapping playtime with screentime. The star also advised parents to raise concerns about overpowering technology in schools.
Hugh Grant is not pleased with schools encouraging increased screen time for kids
Actor Hugh Grant is raising his voice against schools that offer tablets and smartphones, which result in increased screen time for the children. Speaking at an event organized by Close Screens, Open Minds at London’s Knightsbridge School, the actor expressed his dissatisfaction as an “angry parent” at the school’s overpowering digitization for their students.
Grant described himself as a parent fighting the never-ending and depressing battle with kids who are only focused on the screen. The actor shared his “final straw” that led him to campaign for limited technology, including smartphones or tablets, in kids’ classrooms. Grant revealed that schools prided themselves on giving every student a Chromebook. He explained that this is the “last f—ing thing” the kids need.
Grant has five children — Tabitha, Felix, John, Lulu, and Blue — whom he shares with ex Tinglan Hong and three with now-wife Anna Eberstein. At the event, the star slammed the “ridiculous posh private schools” his kids go to. He said, “They’re the ones saying they’re not going to play outside today because it’s raining, or they can’t go on the climbing frame because it’s windy. It’s pathetic.”
The actor expressed the need for a “hero school” for the students to “break the mould.” Grant advised against going to the government or politicians for a solution and instead urged shifting the focus to parents. He felt that if a “critical mass of parents” voiced their issues against technology and overuse of devices, even the schools and politicians would take action.
Present at the event with Hugh Grant were social psychologist Dr Jonathan Haidt and King Charles III’s second cousin, Sophie Winkleman.
