Marietta schools will vote on restrictions on personal smart devices

📅 Being: Next Tuesday, the Marietta City School Board will vote on a proposal to restrict the use of personal smart devices during school hours to enhance student learning and support mental health.

📋 Details: On June 18, the Marietta City School Board will decide whether to implement a new policy requiring middle grade students at Marietta Sixth Grade Academy and Marietta Middle School to keep their personal cell phones and smartwatches in Yondr bags throughout the school day.

Yondr bags are special closed bags that use a patented magnet to secure devices, so they remain inaccessible during school hours.

The initiative, developed with input from parents, students and staff, aims to minimize distractions and promote student engagement.

“Cell phones, smart watches and social media have a significant impact on our students’ learning and mental health,” said Superintendent Dr. Grant Rivera. “School should be a place of learning and development; This cannot happen if students are distracted by their phones.”

🗨️ Key Quotes:

• “By limiting the use of smartphones and smart watches, we increase focus on learning and encourage meaningful face-to-face interactions among students,” said Jeff DeJarnett, chairman of the Marietta City Schools board.

📊 By the numbers:

• Average daily number of notifications received by young people: 237
• Average daily time spent on devices: over 5 hours
• Increased risk of poor mental health from more than three hours of daily social media use: double

🌐 Big photo: Research by Common Sense Media and the US Surgeon General has found the negative effects of excessive screen time on children’s brain development and emotional learning. This initiative aims to combat these issues by creating a more focused and supportive learning environment.

💡 Why is it important: Limiting the use of personal smart devices during school hours is crucial to reducing distractions and supporting students’ mental health. The proposed policy reflects a community-wide effort to prioritize student well-being and academic success.

🔜 What’s next?: Voting will take place on June 18, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at 250 Howard Street NE in Marietta. If approved, the new policy will take effect on August 1.

💬 Your opinion: What do you think about the proposed policy to restrict the use of personal smart devices in schools? Will this effectively improve students’ learning and mental health? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

In Knowledge: While much attention is paid to national politics and the functioning of Congress and the White House, local government meetings are where decisions that affect your daily life are made. City Council, County Commission, School Board meetings, and town halls are where your elected leaders discuss and decide on the issues that have the greatest impact on your family and community. These meetings are open to the public.

Each week, The Georgia Sun highlights some of the local government meetings and activities you need to know about in your community to keep you informed about decisions your elected officials are considering and how your taxes are being spent.

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