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Silicon Valley’s tools are ripping apart the social fabric of our lives.
– Former Facebook Executive
The phone-based life produces degradation, not just in adolescents, but in all of us.
– Jonathan Haidt
At the start of this school year, VCHS instituted a new cell phone policy – Away for the Day. We took a strong stand and kept it simple – no cell phone use on campus during the entire school day, including breaks, lunch, etc. Our thinking went like this – eliminate cell phone use during the school day to improve academic focus, in-person social skills, and mental health.
I’m frequently asked how Away for the Day is going. An easy answer is difficult to quantify but I see evidence every day that the policy is working. But I wanted to hear more directly from students (a sample group of sorts) to hear about their experience the last few months.
I met with a group of mostly seniors this week during their Psychology class and asked this question – What impact has Away for the Day had on VCHS students, not just you? Now remember that teenagers are wired to not like rules (especially new ones), so I expected to hear a variety of perspectives. Here are a few.
· Not much has changed, it wasn’t a problem before.
· The policy may have better results with freshmen.
· There’s a lot more social interaction.
· Students seem happier and more social.
· During free time, I read a book now instead of scrolling on my phone.
· Students use their phones at home more now to catch up on their social media.
· Not having access to my cell apps makes it difficult to manage my life and time.
· Breaks during the day are better without phones.
· It’s not a perfect policy; students find workaround solutions.
The straightforward, honest feedback was good to hear. Yes, it’s not a perfect policy, but it is one that VCHS will keep. Like most things it will take time to really understand its impact, but my strong hunch is that it’s working – more focus, less drama, more happiness.
You might be wondering why I’m musing about cell phones before Thanksgiving break. I think there’s a connection between Thanksgiving and cell phones, or more specifically gratitude and overuse of social media. Too much social media (often feeding unhealthy comparison) robs us of gratitude. Being present and spending more time in the real world, not the artificial one, can tune our hearts toward all that we have, rather than what we don’t.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Steve O'Neil
Head of School
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