Starting this academic year, Tennessee High School has implemented a new policy that limits phone usage during the entirety of the school day. The use of cell phones in classrooms has been a widely debated topic across the region, and the school has taken a proactive approach to address this issue.
Last week, Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia took a significant step by signing an executive order that restricts the use of mobile phones in schools.
In an interview with News 5, Kim Kirk, the principal of Tennessee High School, expressed her optimism regarding the decision. According to her, the students will have a more engaging and secure learning experience within the school premises.
According to Kirk, children can once again engage in meaningful conversations and not be overly dependent on technology. He further added that he has heard parents express concerns about their children lacking social connections, but often, the root cause is their inclination towards using cell phones instead of communicating with others.
Kirk hopes that everyone can comprehend the reasons behind implementing the policy, even though it may be subject to questioning throughout the school year.
According to the educator, it is important for students to be advocates and speak up for what they believe in. To achieve this, she encourages them to have open conversations with their teachers and gain a deeper understanding of the reasons behind certain actions. She emphasized that it is not a matter of blindly following instructions but rather comprehending the rationale behind them. Even if disagreements arise, the goal is to have a constructive dialogue where everyone’s perspectives are heard and respected.
According to Dr. Rachel Miller-Slough, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in adolescent mental health, the use of phones among teenagers and adolescents can have both advantages and disadvantages.
According to the expert, during the initial stages of development, the brain undergoes significant growth, especially in the frontal lobe. This area is responsible for learning to process complex information, regulating emotions and inhibiting compulsive behavior. Therefore, it’s crucial to carefully manage a child’s access to phones during this period. As the expert explains, it all comes down to how you shape their usage.
According to Miller-Slough, parents have a significant impact on how their teenagers interact with social media.
According to her, parents can play a crucial role in supporting their teenagers’ emotional and mental well-being, especially when it comes to the usage of digital devices. She suggests that parents should engage their children in conversations about how they can use these devices in a way that benefits them. For instance, parents can check up on their teenagers’ emotions while they use digital devices or monitor the duration of usage.
The students at Tennessee High School are scheduled to return for their first full day of school after their summer break on Tuesday, August 6th.
