Helpful questions for Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - “Unplug to Connect” at home
Q: Can we use the telephone (landline)?
A: Yes, we have to be open to possible emergencies. Connecting in person is best, but if the phone rings, please answer it. You can minimize your outgoing calls by planning ahead.
Q: May I use my cell phone?
A: Try not to unless it is your primary home phone. This could be tricky since it offers a window into your social media (e.g., texts, Instagram, email ). Turning it off will help to avoid temptation. To not carry our cell phones brings an even more powerful experience. If you must remain available then carry it and leave it on. One strategy for generating support is for every family member to agree to put their cell phones in a centralized location for the evening e.g., a bag or box.
Q: May we cook dinner using the stove?
A. Yes. The stove is not a digital technology.
Q: May we watch television?
A: If you decide to accept the home challenge, you should decide whether watching television crosses the line. (Technically, it is a digital technology).
Q: Can we watch a DVD using a DVD player and television screen?
A: DVD stands for Digital Video Disc - a digital technology. You should decide how strict you and your family wish be.
Q. How will my children benefit?
A. Having grown up in the constant presence of digital technology, this might give them an inkling of awareness that we can choose to be connected or not. If you communicate this as important to you, they will notice.
Q: Should I limit my digital activity at work?
A: If your work conditions permit you to unplug, even for part of the day without negative consequences, we invite you to join us. In general we do not expect parents to participate at work.
Q: Regarding the eWaste recycling, I have tried to get rid of most of the data on the old or broken computers and phones but really don’t know how thorough of a job I have done. Can you tell me what if any precautions are being made with respect to any old data stored on the electronics brought in to the school.
A: You are right that there is a grey area here of just how thorough we need to be to safely recycle digital hardware. We (Grace) will be passing on all hardware as is, taking no further steps to remove data. The vendor we are working with includes the service of wiping memory for each device. Even so, we have asked all donors to wipe their own systems before bringing them in. There are many online sources describing how to do this, but I can't say how much precaution is enough, especially if it's a device that no longer boots up. The vendor we are working with describes their process of extracting the metals and parts they can recover. Whatever cannot be recycled will probably go to landfill. But we cannot guarantee that sensitive data won't be exposed to potential theft somewhere in this process. It seems highly unlikely but not impossible. So we will do our best to ensure nothing bad happens, but there is no absolute. If you feel uncertain or mistrustful about releasing any of your devices, don't risk it. We don't want this to be a situation where you feel unsafe.