Réjean Bergeron signs an opinion text on the negative consequences of screens on the psychological health of young people and the denial of education professionals on this subject. I completely agree with him. However, to the list of those who refuse to face reality, I would add the promoters of evidence. According to Bergeron, for 15 years evidence has shown us the ravages of screens on young people. However, what was the reaction of decision-makers to this enlightening data? Stay the course and don’t flinch. The National Institute of Excellence in Education was recently created in Quebec. Its proponents based their remarks on the importance of examining evidence in order to use it in educational governance. According to them, we needed dashboards and figures. See where my reasoning leads me: evidence certainly does not guarantee good decisions. Today we have a fairly clear demonstration of this thanks to Bergeron. Because they are also guarantors of tomorrow’s problems when they intentionally put aside the experiential knowledge of those who act on the field in education. What about evidence if we don’t listen to practitioners? They will raise solutions which will become the problems of tomorrow. Notice to unwavering supporters of practices deemed exemplary through scientific studies: quickly form a lobby in order to influence the cabinet of the Ministry of Education and pray, because otherwise you will not be heard, even if your figures scream something else. As proof, I cite the Minister’s denial of the existence of three-tier schools and his refusal of the need for rapid action on the presence of screens in our schools.
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