Gov. Kathy Hochul last week began a statewide “listening tour” to solicit opinions about restricting smartphones in schools to improve students’ mental health and reduce distractions in the classroom.
We’re listening, too. We want to hear from teachers, administrators, parents, students and others who care about young people — and to start a civic conversation about it. (Keep reading to find out how you can participate.)
Some local schools already limit cellphone use. Now, as the harmful effects of social media come into better focus, momentum is building to do something about it on a broader scale.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy reports that young people are suffering from a mental health crisis, naming social media is an important contributor. He is calling on Congress to put warning labels on social media.
Anecdotally, teachers report that kids are changing due to the omnipresence of phones and social media.
Baldwinsville eighth-grade teacher Ryan Burdick tried to put his finger on it in a viral …