I would like to thank the many parents who attended the Parent Engagement evening this week. It was a fantastic opportunity for the parents and teachers to connect and get to know each other a little better. As I walked around to the various year gatherings, I was particularly impressed with interactions between Pastoral Care teachers and the parents of those groups. It was a good reminder that the PC teacher is the first person parents should contact when the school needs to know something regarding their child.
The focus of my talk at the evening was on the impact that mobile phones are having on our young people. I know for many parents, myself included, setting appropriate boundaries has been challenging. I presented many of the key concepts from a book called Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Here is a brief summary of the book that Google provided:
"The Anxious Generation," by Jonathan Haidt, argues that the rise in mental health issues among young people is linked to the "rewiring" of childhood caused by smartphones, social media, and overprotective parenting, advocating for a return to play-based childhoods and limiting screen time.
While I don’t believe this book presents a perfect solution, it challenged my thinking around this issue. I encourage you to consider getting a copy for yourself. The school is currently engaging in a refinement of our approach to mobile phones for students while they are at school.
Romans 12:2 states “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.” My reflection on this verse would be that children (and adults) who spend countless hours focused on social media are finding it increasingly harder to not conform to the pattern of this world.
Mr David Collins
Head of Secondary School
Back to All News