healthier high schools from a teacher perspective

[Anonymous]

notes to our principal

Start School Later: Consider delaying the start of the school day to after 8:30 AM. Research shows that later start times can significantly benefit students who are currently showing signs of exhaustion. This change is not only age-appropriate but has also been linked to improved student performance and well-being.

Cell Phone Use and Mental Health: There is a growing concern about cell phone addiction and its detrimental effects on students in the classroom. With mental health issues at unprecedented levels among youth, it is crucial to address and manage cell phone usage to foster a healthier learning environment and care for our kids addictions.

[Anonymous]

You felt like you needed to start another topic to iterate what has been discussed and has active threads going on about in this forum right now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:notes to our principal

Start School Later: Consider delaying the start of the school day to after 8:30 AM. Research shows that later start times can significantly benefit students who are currently showing signs of exhaustion. This change is not only age-appropriate but has also been linked to improved student performance and well-being.

Cell Phone Use and Mental Health: There is a growing concern about cell phone addiction and its detrimental effects on students in the classroom. With mental health issues at unprecedented levels among youth, it is crucial to address and manage cell phone usage to foster a healthier learning environment and care for our kids addictions.

Later start times - I wish but this is not practical. This was already settled.

Cell Phone Use - not necessary. Parents can install parental controls if they are concerned. It's not the county's job to parent. They should focus on education and let families set their own priorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:notes to our principal

Start School Later: Consider delaying the start of the school day to after 8:30 AM. Research shows that later start times can significantly benefit students who are currently showing signs of exhaustion. This change is not only age-appropriate but has also been linked to improved student performance and well-being.

Cell Phone Use and Mental Health: There is a growing concern about cell phone addiction and its detrimental effects on students in the classroom. With mental health issues at unprecedented levels among youth, it is crucial to address and manage cell phone usage to foster a healthier learning environment and care for our kids addictions.

Later start times - I wish but this is not practical. This was already settled.

Cell Phone Use - not necessary. Parents can install parental controls if they are concerned. It's not the county's job to parent. They should focus on education and let families set their own priorities.

No it's not settled. There are board members who are in favor of later start times because the science is clear on the benefits. Keep going on this parents.

[Anonymous]

It's as if you just dropped down to earth today. People have been pushing for later start times for high schools for a decade now.

[Anonymous]

As to delaying start times, how do you intend to compensate for the hardship this creates for families depending on older siblings to look after younger siblings after school or for kids who have to work to contribute to the family’s income? I don’t think it will help a student’s well-being and performance if their younger siblings are removed from the home by CPS and their parents are being charged for leaving young children unattended, or if the family faces food and/or housing insecurity from loss of income of the high schoolers after-school jobs.

As for cellphones, I’m confused by what, specifically, you’re objecting to. If you’re objecting to phone usage in class, I think everyone agrees that would be problematic and is already against policy, although perhaps the policy needs to be enforced more vigorously. If you’re objecting to a student’s use of a cellphone at home, I think you’re being shortsighted, sanctimonious, and presumptuous. Indubitably, there is some content students access on cellphones that can be extremely damaging. There is also content that can be educational and provide other positive benefits. Basically it’s a tool that allows access to electronic media, that like any media should be judged on the content rather than the format. I think most problematic content is not uniquely dependent on cellphones, but could be accessed through most electronic devices (laptops, desktops, tablets, etc.). Are you suggesting that high school students should regress to the ‘80s and rely on print versions of encyclopedias for research and typewriters to prepare their essays?

If you’re concerned about how the student’s home life is affecting their physical, mental, and emotional well-being, have you considered the effects of having marijuana smokers in their home? Even if the student doesn’t smoke themselves, we learned from tobacco that exposure to secondhand smoke is also serious. According to the CDC, not only can can secondhand exposure make someone high (which would seem to impair a student’s attempt to do homework and study), it can also have longterm impacts on a developing brain including causing problems with attention, motivation, and memory. If you want to try and regulate a student’s home life, this would seem to be more urgent than whether they have access to a cellphone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:notes to our principal

Start School Later: Consider delaying the start of the school day to after 8:30 AM. Research shows that later start times can significantly benefit students who are currently showing signs of exhaustion. This change is not only age-appropriate but has also been linked to improved student performance and well-being.

Cell Phone Use and Mental Health: There is a growing concern about cell phone addiction and its detrimental effects on students in the classroom. With mental health issues at unprecedented levels among youth, it is crucial to address and manage cell phone usage to foster a healthier learning environment and care for our kids addictions.

+1
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/1181788.page

[Anonymous]

My kid is at a private MS but going to public for HS. Cell phone use is strictly prohibited during the school day right now.
Her friends in mcps have their phone with them all day long. There are videos being taken and shared in hallways and classroom. At lunch they’re staring at their phones. So even though I can Police my own kid, her experience at school will still be surrounded by cell phone useage.
It needs to be banned completely. They stay in backpacks. If you’re caught with it out it’s confiscated and taken to office where parent has to pick it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As to delaying start times, how do you intend to compensate for the hardship this creates for families depending on older siblings to look after younger siblings after school or for kids who have to work to contribute to the family’s income? I don’t think it will help a student’s well-being and performance if their younger siblings are removed from the home by CPS and their parents are being charged for leaving young children unattended, or if the family faces food and/or housing insecurity from loss of income of the high schoolers after-school jobs.

As for cellphones, I’m confused by what, specifically, you’re objecting to. If you’re objecting to phone usage in class, I think everyone agrees that would be problematic and is already against policy, although perhaps the policy needs to be enforced more vigorously. If you’re objecting to a student’s use of a cellphone at home, I think you’re being shortsighted, sanctimonious, and presumptuous. Indubitably, there is some content students access on cellphones that can be extremely damaging. There is also content that can be educational and provide other positive benefits. Basically it’s a tool that allows access to electronic media, that like any media should be judged on the content rather than the format. I think most problematic content is not uniquely dependent on cellphones, but could be accessed through most electronic devices (laptops, desktops, tablets, etc.). Are you suggesting that high school students should regress to the ‘80s and rely on print versions of encyclopedias for research and typewriters to prepare their essays?

If you’re concerned about how the student’s home life is affecting their physical, mental, and emotional well-being, have you considered the effects of having marijuana smokers in their home? Even if the student doesn’t smoke themselves, we learned from tobacco that exposure to secondhand smoke is also serious. According to the CDC, not only can can secondhand exposure make someone high (which would seem to impair a student’s attempt to do homework and study), it can also have longterm impacts on a developing brain including causing problems with attention, motivation, and memory. If you want to try and regulate a student’s home life, this would seem to be more urgent than whether they have access to a cellphone.

Easy point to the present and growing body of research and then indicate that people’s individual childcare situations are not the responsibility of the school district. Because the district is not callous it can provide a listing or referralto the many before and after school programs in the county (be it onsite at the school, pickup to a nearby center or daycare, babysitters, etc). If more than that is needed the responsibility rest with the other MoCo government entities,not MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:notes to our principal

Start School Later: Consider delaying the start of the school day to after 8:30 AM. Research shows that later start times can significantly benefit students who are currently showing signs of exhaustion. This change is not only age-appropriate but has also been linked to improved student performance and well-being.

Cell Phone Use and Mental Health: There is a growing concern about cell phone addiction and its detrimental effects on students in the classroom. With mental health issues at unprecedented levels among youth, it is crucial to address and manage cell phone usage to foster a healthier learning environment and care for our kids addictions.

Notes to you:

Later Start time: No, some parents have to drive their kids and a later start time is an issue with work. Its also an issue with outside activities. Those activities enhance kids physical and mental well being. Instead be a parent and enhance a bed time.

Cell phone use: As a teacher, start teaching again. Don't do few google slides and call it a day. Use a real textbook, teach a lesson, review the homework from the previous day and hold kids accountable. Kids are partly on cell phones because they are bored. Your class is boring and not stimulating. Fix it. (and thank you to the teachers who do teach and put in an effort - referring to two we had last year who were life changing).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is at a private MS but going to public for HS. Cell phone use is strictly prohibited during the school day right now.
Her friends in mcps have their phone with them all day long. There are videos being taken and shared in hallways and classroom. At lunch they’re staring at their phones. So even though I can Police my own kid, her experience at school will still be surrounded by cell phone useage.
It needs to be banned completely. They stay in backpacks. If you’re caught with it out it’s confiscated and taken to office where parent has to pick it up.

What's wrong with using phones at lunch?

Wait till the bomb and fire threats come and you get a text from the school and want to know if your child is ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As to delaying start times, how do you intend to compensate for the hardship this creates for families depending on older siblings to look after younger siblings after school or for kids who have to work to contribute to the family’s income? I don’t think it will help a student’s well-being and performance if their younger siblings are removed from the home by CPS and their parents are being charged for leaving young children unattended, or if the family faces food and/or housing insecurity from loss of income of the high schoolers after-school jobs.

As for cellphones, I’m confused by what, specifically, you’re objecting to. If you’re objecting to phone usage in class, I think everyone agrees that would be problematic and is already against policy, although perhaps the policy needs to be enforced more vigorously. If you’re objecting to a student’s use of a cellphone at home, I think you’re being shortsighted, sanctimonious, and presumptuous. Indubitably, there is some content students access on cellphones that can be extremely damaging. There is also content that can be educational and provide other positive benefits. Basically it’s a tool that allows access to electronic media, that like any media should be judged on the content rather than the format. I think most problematic content is not uniquely dependent on cellphones, but could be accessed through most electronic devices (laptops, desktops, tablets, etc.). Are you suggesting that high school students should regress to the ‘80s and rely on print versions of encyclopedias for research and typewriters to prepare their essays?

If you’re concerned about how the student’s home life is affecting their physical, mental, and emotional well-being, have you considered the effects of having marijuana smokers in their home? Even if the student doesn’t smoke themselves, we learned from tobacco that exposure to secondhand smoke is also serious. According to the CDC, not only can can secondhand exposure make someone high (which would seem to impair a student’s attempt to do homework and study), it can also have longterm impacts on a developing brain including causing problems with attention, motivation, and memory. If you want to try and regulate a student’s home life, this would seem to be more urgent than whether they have access to a cellphone.

Hey Sarah Huckabee, we are not accommodating the child labor needs of corporations and families should not be dependent on their child's labor to survive in any way

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:notes to our principal

Start School Later: Consider delaying the start of the school day to after 8:30 AM. Research shows that later start times can significantly benefit students who are currently showing signs of exhaustion. This change is not only age-appropriate but has also been linked to improved student performance and well-being.

Cell Phone Use and Mental Health: There is a growing concern about cell phone addiction and its detrimental effects on students in the classroom. With mental health issues at unprecedented levels among youth, it is crucial to address and manage cell phone usage to foster a healthier learning environment and care for our kids addictions.

Later start times - I wish but this is not practical. This was already settled.

Cell Phone Use - not necessary. Parents can install parental controls if they are concerned. It's not the county's job to parent. They should focus on education and let families set their own priorities.

No it's not settled. There are board members who are in favor of later start times because the science is clear on the benefits. Keep going on this parents.

It's settled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As to delaying start times, how do you intend to compensate for the hardship this creates for families depending on older siblings to look after younger siblings after school or for kids who have to work to contribute to the family’s income? I don’t think it will help a student’s well-being and performance if their younger siblings are removed from the home by CPS and their parents are being charged for leaving young children unattended, or if the family faces food and/or housing insecurity from loss of income of the high schoolers after-school jobs.

As for cellphones, I’m confused by what, specifically, you’re objecting to. If you’re objecting to phone usage in class, I think everyone agrees that would be problematic and is already against policy, although perhaps the policy needs to be enforced more vigorously. If you’re objecting to a student’s use of a cellphone at home, I think you’re being shortsighted, sanctimonious, and presumptuous. Indubitably, there is some content students access on cellphones that can be extremely damaging. There is also content that can be educational and provide other positive benefits. Basically it’s a tool that allows access to electronic media, that like any media should be judged on the content rather than the format. I think most problematic content is not uniquely dependent on cellphones, but could be accessed through most electronic devices (laptops, desktops, tablets, etc.). Are you suggesting that high school students should regress to the ‘80s and rely on print versions of encyclopedias for research and typewriters to prepare their essays?

If you’re concerned about how the student’s home life is affecting their physical, mental, and emotional well-being, have you considered the effects of having marijuana smokers in their home? Even if the student doesn’t smoke themselves, we learned from tobacco that exposure to secondhand smoke is also serious. According to the CDC, not only can can secondhand exposure make someone high (which would seem to impair a student’s attempt to do homework and study), it can also have longterm impacts on a developing brain including causing problems with attention, motivation, and memory. If you want to try and regulate a student’s home life, this would seem to be more urgent than whether they have access to a cellphone.

Excellent points but will likely just be ignored by this poster. Fortunately their bad ideas will never come to pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:notes to our principal

Start School Later: Consider delaying the start of the school day to after 8:30 AM. Research shows that later start times can significantly benefit students who are currently showing signs of exhaustion. This change is not only age-appropriate but has also been linked to improved student performance and well-being.

Cell Phone Use and Mental Health: There is a growing concern about cell phone addiction and its detrimental effects on students in the classroom. With mental health issues at unprecedented levels among youth, it is crucial to address and manage cell phone usage to foster a healthier learning environment and care for our kids addictions.

Later start times - I wish but this is not practical. This was already settled.

Cell Phone Use - not necessary. Parents can install parental controls if they are concerned. It's not the county's job to parent. They should focus on education and let families set their own priorities.

No it's not settled. There are board members who are in favor of later start times because the science is clear on the benefits. Keep going on this parents.

The board members are incompetent and don't have kids of their own that it impacts. Send your kids to bed earlier if they need more sleep.