First, I want to thank so many of you for reaching out upon hearing last week about my latest film, Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER. It is fantastic to hear how many of you are organizing screenings or going to our website to find one near you. As we look at challenging emotions facing today's teens, Away For The Day is spotlighted in the movie. What is Away For the Day? Well, now that you asked...
In December 2017, my co-producer, Lisa, and I launched the Away For The Day campaign to have phones put away in lockers during school. The movement gives parents, teachers, and school leaders action tools they can use at their school to institute cell phone free policies. The tools include research papers, video testimonials, and examples of cell phone free policies used in other schools.
I am excited to give some really important updates on how the movement is going, but first a bit of background in case you are not aware of the movement.
Tech provides many educational tools — no question whatsoever. But having, in particular, elementary and middle school students carrying around their own phones chock-full of video games and social media is not the same as carrying around a purely designated educational tool. That is where the concern comes in. (Have designated tech for learning — cell phones are not that).
Cell phones in schools do much more than take away from academic learning and face-to-face interactions. They can also be the source of hard emotional hits. If students have their phones in their pocket in class, they may sneak a peek at their social feeds and see pictures of friends doing fun things without them; or maybe they didn't get many likes on a post. They may feel anxious a SnapChat wasn't opened. Young people who are in a low-emotional state are particularly vulnerable to the emotional hits happening all day long when they have access to their phones in school.
Now for the updates!
Recently, many of you have reached out to tell us about how our Away For The Day resources have helped change policies in your schools.
At San Mateo High School outside of San Francisco, students are now required to lock their phones away in special pouches (called Yondr) for the day. The assistant principal, Andrew Gelb, told an ABC TV reporter,
"Now the average bathroom break is probably two-to-three minutes, whereas last year it was 20-30 minutes and we just had students wandering the halls with their head down on their phones."
A father in Portola Valley, California just told us how he's been using the research and resources to help influence his son's high school. One thing he found useful in furthering the conversation was to survey the parents to determine their cell phone policy preferences. He has generously shared this survey template for our readers.
An assistant principal at West Middle School in Michigan shared with us that after allowing phones in her middle school for the last three years, they are changing their policies.
"We are using a ton of research from your website. I absolutely loved the posters. I am going to get them printed in color for our building. I also really liked seeing the different policies and consequences," she told me. "My staff is very used to letting kids use their phones for classroom activities and this is going to be hard for them to make the change… but it's totally worth it." Here is what their new policy states:
West Middle School Cell Phone Policy:
WMS recognizes the importance of communication and collaboration, and provides devices for students to be productive in the classroom. To keep the focus on academics and to reduce unnecessary distractions, the school will be enforcing the following:
West Middle School Consequences and Family Communication:
Students using phones or electronic devices without authorization:
When we did our last survey, more than half of the middle schools in the United States allow students to carry their phones. But we can't just leave it to the school principals, teachers, and PTA to change that; parents have to get involved so that the no-phone policies become the norm.
The good news is that the majority of parents support what the science shows: that for academic success and emotional well-being, having cell phones put away for the day in middle school is really the way to go.
And things continue to improve. According to an article in Education Week, "California recently passed legislation that allows school districts to restrict or prohibit device use in class, although it's not a requirement. And at least four other states debated putting significant limits on the devices."
For this Tech Talk Tuesday, discuss the benefits of not having cell phones in the classroom. Here are some questions to get you started:
*We would love for you to share this TTT any way that works for you, whether that’s on social media or via a newsletter. If you want to send it out in your newsletter we just ask that you credit us and link to our website, and let us know at lisa@screenagersmovie.com.
HOST A SCREENING to help spark change.
FIND EVENT LISTINGS
Do you organize professional development in schools? We now have a 6-hour, 3-part training module. Request more information here Professional Development.
Stay in touch with the Screenagers community on Facebook, Twitter and leave comments below.
September 10, 2019
Here is a video from the Screenagers YouTube Channel that talks more about this subject
First, I want to thank so many of you for reaching out upon hearing last week about my latest film, Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER. It is fantastic to hear how many of you are organizing screenings or going to our website to find one near you. As we look at challenging emotions facing today's teens, Away For The Day is spotlighted in the movie. What is Away For the Day? Well, now that you asked...
In December 2017, my co-producer, Lisa, and I launched the Away For The Day campaign to have phones put away in lockers during school. The movement gives parents, teachers, and school leaders action tools they can use at their school to institute cell phone free policies. The tools include research papers, video testimonials, and examples of cell phone free policies used in other schools.
I am excited to give some really important updates on how the movement is going, but first a bit of background in case you are not aware of the movement.
Tech provides many educational tools — no question whatsoever. But having, in particular, elementary and middle school students carrying around their own phones chock-full of video games and social media is not the same as carrying around a purely designated educational tool. That is where the concern comes in. (Have designated tech for learning — cell phones are not that).
Cell phones in schools do much more than take away from academic learning and face-to-face interactions. They can also be the source of hard emotional hits. If students have their phones in their pocket in class, they may sneak a peek at their social feeds and see pictures of friends doing fun things without them; or maybe they didn't get many likes on a post. They may feel anxious a SnapChat wasn't opened. Young people who are in a low-emotional state are particularly vulnerable to the emotional hits happening all day long when they have access to their phones in school.
Now for the updates!
Recently, many of you have reached out to tell us about how our Away For The Day resources have helped change policies in your schools.
At San Mateo High School outside of San Francisco, students are now required to lock their phones away in special pouches (called Yondr) for the day. The assistant principal, Andrew Gelb, told an ABC TV reporter,
"Now the average bathroom break is probably two-to-three minutes, whereas last year it was 20-30 minutes and we just had students wandering the halls with their head down on their phones."
A father in Portola Valley, California just told us how he's been using the research and resources to help influence his son's high school. One thing he found useful in furthering the conversation was to survey the parents to determine their cell phone policy preferences. He has generously shared this survey template for our readers.
An assistant principal at West Middle School in Michigan shared with us that after allowing phones in her middle school for the last three years, they are changing their policies.
"We are using a ton of research from your website. I absolutely loved the posters. I am going to get them printed in color for our building. I also really liked seeing the different policies and consequences," she told me. "My staff is very used to letting kids use their phones for classroom activities and this is going to be hard for them to make the change… but it's totally worth it." Here is what their new policy states:
West Middle School Cell Phone Policy:
WMS recognizes the importance of communication and collaboration, and provides devices for students to be productive in the classroom. To keep the focus on academics and to reduce unnecessary distractions, the school will be enforcing the following:
West Middle School Consequences and Family Communication:
Students using phones or electronic devices without authorization:
When we did our last survey, more than half of the middle schools in the United States allow students to carry their phones. But we can't just leave it to the school principals, teachers, and PTA to change that; parents have to get involved so that the no-phone policies become the norm.
The good news is that the majority of parents support what the science shows: that for academic success and emotional well-being, having cell phones put away for the day in middle school is really the way to go.
And things continue to improve. According to an article in Education Week, "California recently passed legislation that allows school districts to restrict or prohibit device use in class, although it's not a requirement. And at least four other states debated putting significant limits on the devices."
For this Tech Talk Tuesday, discuss the benefits of not having cell phones in the classroom. Here are some questions to get you started:
*We would love for you to share this TTT any way that works for you, whether that’s on social media or via a newsletter. If you want to send it out in your newsletter we just ask that you credit us and link to our website, and let us know at lisa@screenagersmovie.com.
HOST A SCREENING to help spark change.
FIND EVENT LISTINGS
Do you organize professional development in schools? We now have a 6-hour, 3-part training module. Request more information here Professional Development.
Stay in touch with the Screenagers community on Facebook, Twitter and leave comments below.
September 10, 2019
Here is a video from the Screenagers YouTube Channel that talks more about this subject
Last week, USA Today ran an outstanding article titled: “Schools don’t want kids on cellphones. Is banning them the solution?” Our team launched Away For The Day in December 2017 to provide science and tools to help more schools create policies in which phones are not with students during the school day, and we are pleased the USA Today article mentions the campaign. The moment of change is truly here. Unlike anything we have seen in the past, the rate at which schools and full districts are adopting away-for-the-day policies is outstanding! Read today’s blog for some highlights from the USA Today article.
READ MORE >
Did your kids participate in our anonymous online survey about cellphones in schools? I am thrilled to unveil some fascinating results of our study today. This study is truly unique — we know of no other study in which students have been asked their opinions about cellphone access in schools.
READ MORE >
One thing that is key in our work together is ensuring we include the voices of young people — something that, of course, is present in the Screenagers film trilogy. Their input is crucial, and that is why I have 2 important questions for us to ask them as they transition back to school. As you know, I am particularly focused on improving our kids' mental health, especially in the aftermath of COVID. One major lever is decreasing personal devices in schools. Below are the two top questions
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
