I hosted a community conversation about student smartphone use in schools on Tuesday, October 15, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Centerville Middle School in Lancaster. Approximately 50 constituents, including representatives from four different school districts from Lancaster and Berks County, attended this “Back to School Night” event where they had the opportunity to hear from a panel of experts and participate in a Q&A session on this incredibly important topic.
Panelists included:
- A superintendent from a Pennsylvania school district that has already successfully addressed student smartphone use through a robust policy.
- A local parent spearheading a grassroots initiative to unite parents in addressing smartphone use their child’s school district.
- A public safety expert to discuss the impact of social media on students, including its potential connection to sex trafficking.
- A Pediatric Physician to discuss the harmful effects of smartphone use in schools and the adverse effects it can have on students’ mental health, learning experiences, and social interactions.
- Representatives from the national group Phone-Free Schools Movement, whose mission is to Provide youth the freedom to excel academically and develop socially without the pressures and harms of phones and social media during the school day.
