Balancing safety and mental health by limiting technology use in school

Kenneth Cameron is passionate about mental health, especially about the mental health of youth. He is also a proud graduate of Hoover High School in Des Moines. As a therapist at Aspiring Counseling Center, he is seeing a drastic change in the mental health landscape. "From the time I graduated in 1995 until now, there has been a significant increase in mental health issues. Times have changed, and we most certainly must adjust to the times."

Qynne Kelly is Principal of Hoover and is equally passionate about the mental health of her students. Hoover started the new school year on Aug. 26 with a policy restricting use of cell phones in the classroom. She says parents have mostly been supportive. "They support it because we need our kids back. That's the easiest way I can say it. You know, 15 years I've been in this business and never in my life have I seen students so disengaged, so disillusioned, so lost, so alone as I do now."

Limiting use of cell phones is more than just a national movement gaining increasing media attention. It is about improving student academic achievement and their mental health.

But it needs to be with caution, and with heart.

"According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 adolescents struggle with a mental health disorder. Furthermore, a study by the American Psychological Association found that school-related stress and anxiety have increased significantly post-COVID-19," explains Cameron.

The American Psychological Association also found that 41% of teens with high social media use rate their mental health as poor or very poor, compared to 23% of their peers. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a warning last spring about the mental health impacts social media use has on youth.

But school shootings are still a major issue, as we once again were painfully reminded of last week. And we have not seen much movement on common sense firearm legislation to address the root cause of the leading cause of death for U.S. children. So there needs to be a balanced approach, for the peace of mind of students and their parents.

"I often explain the cell phone giving a Charlie Brown analogy. For many children who struggle with mental illness and mental health impairments, I describe the cell phone as Linus' security blanket, especially in the wake of school violence and the school shootings," Cameron told me. "We should allow students to keep their cell phones on them. Many schools are considering balanced approaches, such as designated times and places for phone use or allowing phones only for educational purposes. This approach aims to mitigate distractions while still recognizing the valuable role phones play in students' lives."

And this is what Hoover is doing. It is not about punishing students or decreasing access when it comes to the very legitimate fear of safety in schools. "I'll walk by the classrooms and see 25 out of 25 pencils moving and with every kid in the room, I see them laughing and engaging with their classmates. When I stop kids in the hallway, they know their teachers' names," Kelly told me. Her team poured hours into research - they curated articles, talked to other schools, they read books. They made sure they had district level support and communicated early and often to make sure that the message was out, and that families understood why they were implementing the new policy.

Kelly looked at me earnestly from across the table in her organized office, the walls of which were covered with inspirational posters representing the diversity of her student body. "We can't start and end just with the phone. We need our kids to feel a sense of community again so they feel reconnected." Kelly is driven by community and wants her students to benefit from being part of a strong and caring community."My whole life community has poured into me. That's why I am who I am, and I found a community that means a whole lot to me and being in a leadership role in the community where I live and to help improve it."

Kelly plans on continuing to use data to see if the policy and the efforts to reconnect kids are achieving the hoped for results. They are looking at metrics related to behavior, attendance, connections to teachers and staff, and school climate and culture.

As a parent and a therapist, Cameron worries about making sure that policies protect children. He sees the need for a balanced approach, like how Hoover is implementing the cell phone restrictions. "On the positive side of things, consequences can be those such as but not limited to, reducing distractions, decreasing cyberbullying, and improving social interaction. On the negative side of things, the removal of cell phones has shown a negative impact including but not limited to, a great effect on mental health an increase in anxiety and stress, safety concerns, and a decrease in communication with parents. Finding a middle ground that addresses both the benefits and drawbacks is crucial for fostering a supportive and effective educational environment."

Hoover has found such a middle ground, but this is still not an easy task. The resources that public schools have compared to social media and phone companies have at their disposal is a modern-day David versus Goliath scenario. Kelly and her team knew this was difficult going in. But they are doing it for all the right reasons. From karaoke and games in the cafeteria, to open gym, to Hoover merchandise, Kelly hopes her kids feel supported and have more opportunities to engage and feel pride in their school. "If you take that phone, that does not mean that they're going to automatically right revert into something else. And so, the job doesn't stop at just the phone, right? This is about reconnecting kids to who they are and into their communities."

Connection and community are more important than ever, to all of us right now. Let's hope more find the courage and the compassion that Hoover is demonstrating to build this connection our society so desperately needs.

Chris Espersen is a Gazette editorial fellow. [email protected]

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