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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.