Disruptive Fixation

This book explores the rise and fall of a New York City school designed for digital learners, offering critical insights into educational reform and its challenges.

In 2009, a groundbreaking public school opened in New York City, aimed at transforming education for middle school students. This innovative institution, developed by a group of game designers and educational reformers, was backed by notable philanthropic organizations and promised to bring a new approach to learning in the digital age. Ethnographer Christo Sims meticulously recorded the school's evolution, from its initial planning to the graduation of its first eighth-grade class. His work provides insight into the ambitious vision of a 'school for digital kids.'

However, Disruptive Fixation reveals a more complex reality. As the school progressed, it began to drift away from its original ideals, reverting to traditional educational practices characterized by rote learning and strict discipline. Sims highlights how the initial promise of a tech-driven reform gave way to entrenched hierarchies and troubling divisions along gender and racial lines. This shift raises critical questions about the efficacy of such reforms and the persistent challenges they face.

Sims's exploration delves into the dynamics of idealistic tech-reform initiatives, illustrating how they often fail to achieve their goals while simultaneously reshaping the social landscape they aim to improve. By examining the roles of powerful elites, media influences, and the perspectives of students and parents, Disruptive Fixation provides a thought-provoking analysis of techno-philanthropy and its implications for education, revealing both the aspirations and limitations of these well-intentioned interventions.