PARENT vs. SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITY?
We absolutely believe that restricting smartphones & social media is primarily a parent responsibility & we are doing our best to convince Clayton parents to take action.
However, the schools also have a responsibility to address any health issue impacting youth globally.
However, the schools also have a responsibility to address any health issue impacting youth globally.
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“Schools should ensure that classroom learning & social time are phone-free experiences.”
Dr. Vivek H. Murthy Surgeon General of the United States |
How does this group promote more parent responsibility?
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1. Wait until 8th Campaign
“By signing this pledge, I promise not to give my child a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade as long as at least 10 families total from my child’s grade and school pledge to delay the smartphone.” |
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2. Parent Book Club
We started with Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. As of now, 55 parents have joined one of our 5 book club meet-ups throughout summer 2024 at Kaldis, Blueberry Hill, or our homes, all focused on Haidt's The Anxious Generation. We have 2 more meet-ups at the end of July & early August. We plan to continue our meet-ups on books and documentaries related to this topic into the future. |
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3. Online Communities:
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Clayton Parents for Delaying Social Media
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Clayton Neighborhood Play Groups
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Parent Responsibilities Webpage on Our Website
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Through all of these projects, we promote Jonathan Haidt's
Four New Norms.
Four New Norms.
Three of these norms are parent responsibilities.
One is a school responsibility.
"Parents cannot address this widespread societal problem effectively if phones are still accessible in their neighborhood schools where children interact more with each other than in any other place. Parents and schools must work collaboratively." -Haidt
One is a school responsibility.
"Parents cannot address this widespread societal problem effectively if phones are still accessible in their neighborhood schools where children interact more with each other than in any other place. Parents and schools must work collaboratively." -Haidt
But this parenting shift is going to take time.
Even if half of Clayton parents choose not to give our children smartphones this upcoming year, our children would still be distracted & harmed by the second-hand effects that come from the other children using smartphones at school.
Even if half of Clayton parents choose not to give our children smartphones this upcoming year, our children would still be distracted & harmed by the second-hand effects that come from the other children using smartphones at school.
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Convincing every single Clayton parent to restrict, delay, or take away smartphones from their children is going to require a culture shift that we do not have time to wait for.
Cultural Shifts Take Time
Federal law did not ban smoking in schools until 40 years after researchers proved smoking causes cancer.
Some students, parents, and teachers protested the restrictive laws and bans.
