Former Love Island star Montana Brown has sparked a fiery online debate after sharing her stringent requirements for her three-year-old son Jude’s future primary school. The reality TV alum, who is also mom to eight-month-old daughter Miley with fiancé Mark O’Connor, took to social media to air her frustrations about the school-hunting process, leaving jaws dropped and keyboards ablaze.
In a viral video, Montana laid out her non-negotiable “must-haves” for Jude’s education, emphasizing three key priorities: nutrition, quality of teaching, and—most controversially—zero screen time. “The most important things in my head are nutrition, quality of teaching, and use of screen time,” she declared. For Montana, who enforces a strict no-screen policy at home, the idea of her son using devices at school was a dealbreaker.
After attending several school open days, Montana was shocked to learn that technology, including Chromebooks for homework, is a staple in many classrooms, especially as children progress to higher grades. “When I send him to school, I don’t want him to be watching a screen at all,” she insisted. Instead, she argued that Jude’s time would be better spent on activities like sports. She even added that if she ever wants to enjoy a weekend movie with her son, she’d feel better knowing he hasn’t been glued to a screen at school. “At the end of the day, if someone is going to be watching a film with my son, it’s going to be me,” she quipped.
But screens weren’t her only gripe. Montana also slammed schools for offering sugary snacks like biscuits and donuts, claiming they harm children’s concentration and health. “I want to be the one to treat him,” she said, reserving sugary indulgences for weekend family time. Her strict stance on diet and screen time quickly ignited a storm of reactions online, with parents, teachers, and internet users weighing in.
Montana’s comments didn’t sit well with everyone. Critics were quick to challenge her expectations, with one commenter bluntly stating, “I think you’re looking for the perfect school, and that doesn’t exist.” Another accused her of posting “rage bait,” arguing, “They’re not watching movies at school; they’re learning and moving with the times on laptops. All schools have a healthy eating policy, and they’re not allowing sugary treats for break.” A third user advised Montana to “chill out,” asserting that “schools know what they’re doing.”
Teachers also clapped back, defending their practices. One educator explained, “They need to be gaining experience in ICT to prepare them for the world. They learn how to code and create things. Do you think they’re watching films at school?” Others suggested that if Montana wants total control over her son’s environment, homeschooling might be her only option. “It sounds like you should look into homeschooling; that’s the only way you’ll get everything you want,” one commenter remarked.
This isn’t the first time Montana has doubled down on her no-screen philosophy. She previously revealed that she and Mark banned their children from using in-flight entertainment during a six-hour flight, turning themselves into “human climbing frames” as Jude and Miley grew restless. “Mark and I could have eaten our meals together and actually read a book or watched a film ourselves,” she admitted in a TikTok video, reflecting on the exhausting experience. Yet, the couple stood firm, deciding they’d “come too far” to give in. “We flew during the day, so I just thought, you know what, suck it up, we’ve got this,” she laughed.
Montana’s rigid parenting choices have clearly struck a nerve, highlighting the divide between traditional and modern approaches to education and child-rearing. While some admire her dedication to her children’s health and well-being, others argue her expectations are unrealistic in today’s tech-driven world. As the debate rages on, one thing is certain: Montana Brown’s school demands have left the internet buzzing—and not everyone is impressed.