Government schools wasted $30 billion on technology that harmed student achievement
Source: "Government schools spent $30 billion on tech as Gen Z scores hit historic lows | Fox News." February 27, 2026. www.foxnews.com
The Gist
The author argues that public schools wasted $30 billion on computers and tablets that made students worse at learning instead of better. He claims this happened because government schools aren't held accountable like private schools would be in a competitive market.
Conclusion
Government schools' massive spending on educational technology has failed to improve learning outcomes and instead contributed to declining cognitive abilities in Gen Z students
Premises
- U.S. schools spent $30 billion on educational technology in 2024 alone, roughly 10 times what they spent on textbooks
- Gen Z is the first generation in modern history to score lower on standardized tests than the previous generation
- Data from over 80 countries shows declines in IQ, executive function, and creativity accelerating around 2010 when digital devices flooded classrooms
- More screen time in school correlates with worse academic performance according to international assessment data
- Government schools lack accountability and real incentives to innovate wisely, leading them to chase trends rather than focus on effective instruction
- Teachers unions push for more technology spending that reduces their workload without demanding better outcomes
- School choice systems demonstrate better technology integration because competition forces accountability
Assumptions
- Correlation between technology adoption timing and cognitive decline implies causation
- Government schools are inherently less accountable than private alternatives
- Teachers unions primarily act in self-interest rather than student interest
- Market competition automatically leads to better educational outcomes
- Traditional teaching methods are superior to technology-enhanced instruction