Frustrated with the impact of digital devices, a Minneapolis AP Literature teacher banned phones and laptops from her classroom, and the results were striking.
Maureen Mulvaney, who teaches at Washburn High School, decided to go fully “old-school.”
Students completed all their work using pencil and paper, and physical books replaced digital PDFs. Though some students were initially nervous about falling behind, the experiment aimed to restore deep focus, reading stamina, and clear thinking that many educators believe screens have weakened.
The outcomes exceeded expectations.
In September, only 46% of her students felt confident in their reading abilities. By February, just five months later, that number jumped to 95%. Students who once struggled to write even half a page by hand were soon producing six- to seven-page essays.
Nearly 80% reported that organizing ideas and thinking clearly was easier on paper than on a screen. Many also said the change helped them reduce overall screen time at home and improved their real-world conversations.