Great piece Katherine! Yes, some of Lecce's lines had the same effect on me. One thing that is positive is that the concern is entering the public conversation. However, there is simply no way that teachers can enforce this new "rule" and will simply lead them to pull their hair out. There are schools that require students to place the phones in magnetically closed pouches, which can only be opened once they leave school property - this seems to actually work. Parents will definitely need to be the ones that help to turn the ship around. Thanks for your writing!
I wish I could smash the like button on this article twice. I am going to turn this into a sample letter and post it for others to use.
Katherine, more generally, I’ve only recently discovered your blog here (hey, the all-consuming Algorithm on substack actually did me a favour for once vs steering me toward hard-right anti-woke content because I read After Babel). It’s fantastic, and you’re actually in Toronto, where I am.
My question: do you know of any organized movements in the city or the province to advocate for phone-free schools policies and youth social media bans that one could rally around? There’s always the temptation to start my own group, but I have to imagine that somebody already has something going given how much Jon Haidt and crew have made it easy with their anti-phone-activism-in-a-box resources. If there’s already an existing group, I may try to shift my efforts toward starting a chapter of it in my kids’ middle schools.
Hi Geoff. So glad you're enjoying my Substack! It's nice to have engaged readers. No, I don't know of any city or provincial initiatives that are leading the anti-phone charge in ON schools. I got asked the same question at a talk last week, so it's clearly something parents are wanting to rally behind. I'm not even sure what the best approach is—whether it's to deal with individual school boards or directly with the Ministry. I've been speaking to my kids' school principal, but that's the extent of it so far.
Hi Geoff, Jonathan Haidt had just made this announcement on his latest post: " If you want to start a Smartphone Free Childhood group in your country, join our global webinar on 2nd May at 8:30 pm BST. Sign up by filling in your details here: https://tally.so/r/npLDMB"
However, it might be a great idea to start sharing this type of information with other parents at your kids school, send letters to the principals, etc. - I am sure you would find many parents and teachers who resonate with your concerns!
I went to high school before the smartphone era, but I didn't let that stop me. Instead of a phone, I would carry a book with me everywhere as a boredom reliever...
I appreciated this one. Our middle school bans phones in the classroom and lunch room (away for the day in the locker) and has a three strikes policy. First time caught with a phone, it’s taken away for the day in the office. Second time, the parent has to pick it up. The third time, the parent is informed that the child cannot have a phone at all at school (not sure how this last one is enforced though).
I appreciated this one. Our middle school bans phones in the classroom and lunch room (away for the day in the locker) and has a three strikes policy. First time caught with a phone, it’s taken away for the day in the office. Second time, the parent has to pick it up. The third time, the parent is informed that the child cannot have a phone at all at school (not sure how this last one is enforced though).
I have to say that as a teacher in the U.S., we have been told explicitly not to take phones from students because we can be held liable if they are stolen or damaged. So that is a big reason why the teachers do nothing. 🙃
Great piece Katherine! Yes, some of Lecce's lines had the same effect on me. One thing that is positive is that the concern is entering the public conversation. However, there is simply no way that teachers can enforce this new "rule" and will simply lead them to pull their hair out. There are schools that require students to place the phones in magnetically closed pouches, which can only be opened once they leave school property - this seems to actually work. Parents will definitely need to be the ones that help to turn the ship around. Thanks for your writing!
I wish I could smash the like button on this article twice. I am going to turn this into a sample letter and post it for others to use.
Katherine, more generally, I’ve only recently discovered your blog here (hey, the all-consuming Algorithm on substack actually did me a favour for once vs steering me toward hard-right anti-woke content because I read After Babel). It’s fantastic, and you’re actually in Toronto, where I am.
My question: do you know of any organized movements in the city or the province to advocate for phone-free schools policies and youth social media bans that one could rally around? There’s always the temptation to start my own group, but I have to imagine that somebody already has something going given how much Jon Haidt and crew have made it easy with their anti-phone-activism-in-a-box resources. If there’s already an existing group, I may try to shift my efforts toward starting a chapter of it in my kids’ middle schools.
Hi Geoff. So glad you're enjoying my Substack! It's nice to have engaged readers. No, I don't know of any city or provincial initiatives that are leading the anti-phone charge in ON schools. I got asked the same question at a talk last week, so it's clearly something parents are wanting to rally behind. I'm not even sure what the best approach is—whether it's to deal with individual school boards or directly with the Ministry. I've been speaking to my kids' school principal, but that's the extent of it so far.
Hi Geoff, Jonathan Haidt had just made this announcement on his latest post: " If you want to start a Smartphone Free Childhood group in your country, join our global webinar on 2nd May at 8:30 pm BST. Sign up by filling in your details here: https://tally.so/r/npLDMB"
There great resources on how to take specific actions on The Anxious Generation website https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/take-action
However, it might be a great idea to start sharing this type of information with other parents at your kids school, send letters to the principals, etc. - I am sure you would find many parents and teachers who resonate with your concerns!
Thanks Ruth! And that is what I might do — but before I charge off and try to start something, I want to know if anyone else is already doing it.
I went to high school before the smartphone era, but I didn't let that stop me. Instead of a phone, I would carry a book with me everywhere as a boredom reliever...
I appreciated this one. Our middle school bans phones in the classroom and lunch room (away for the day in the locker) and has a three strikes policy. First time caught with a phone, it’s taken away for the day in the office. Second time, the parent has to pick it up. The third time, the parent is informed that the child cannot have a phone at all at school (not sure how this last one is enforced though).
I appreciated this one. Our middle school bans phones in the classroom and lunch room (away for the day in the locker) and has a three strikes policy. First time caught with a phone, it’s taken away for the day in the office. Second time, the parent has to pick it up. The third time, the parent is informed that the child cannot have a phone at all at school (not sure how this last one is enforced though).
I have to say that as a teacher in the U.S., we have been told explicitly not to take phones from students because we can be held liable if they are stolen or damaged. So that is a big reason why the teachers do nothing. 🙃
Yes, I've heard that. With phones being such a high-value item, it adds a level of complexity. All the more reason not to allow them at school...
Yeah, I am for that. I just want to make it clear that this isn't a policy that teachers alone can enforce.