I agree! 100%! Schools are NO PLACE FOR PHONES!

Mairead Elordi – Daily Wire July 10, 2024

Virginia’s Republican governor called for “phone-free” schools in an executive order on Tuesday, citing the mental health and learning crisis among school-age children.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s order directs the education department to issue guidance on establishing “cell phone-free education policies and procedures” for public schools.

The order cites the “alarming mental health crisis” among teenagers that is “driven in part by extensive social media usage and widespread cell phone possession among children.”

Teens’ risk of mental health issues like depression and anxiety doubles if they spend more than three hours a day on social media, according to one study, and the average teen spends nearly five hours scrolling, according to Gallup.

The public school plan also aims to “significantly reduce the amount of time students can be on phones without parental supervision.”

“This essential action will promote a healthier and more focused educational environment where every child is free to learn. Creating cellphone and social media-free educational environments in Virginia’s K-12 education system will benefit students, parents, and educators,” Youngkin said in a statement.

Virginia Education Secretary Aimee Guidera said that while government is not the only solution, limiting screen time at school is a must.

“The data is clear, and it is time for Virginians to come together to address the damage of social media and screens to healthy childhoods,” Guidera said. “Government cannot be the sole solution to this crisis; school communities – especially parents and teachers – must work together to discuss and develop common sense approaches to limit screen time, prioritize open channels of communication, and re-establish norms that reinforce healthy and vibrant learning communities.”