Joint Statement to Parents and Guardians on Smartphones and Social Media

Dear Whitfield School Parents and Guardians,

I hope this letter finds you and your children enjoying the summer season.

I am writing today to share with you that, in view of increasing concerns about the detrimental impacts of smartphone and social media use on children and adolescents, and in a spirit of solidarity with school communities throughout Greater St. Louis, Whitfield School is proud to be a signatory to the Joint Statement to Parents and Guardians on Smartphones and Social Media published today. The Statement acknowledges the challenges that smartphones and social media present to families and school communities alike. It is both a collective expression of solidarity with parents and a broad call to action from school leaders across the St. Louis region in affirmation of our mutual commitment to the healthy development of your children.

In addition to signing the Joint Statement, we are continuing to review our policies and educational programming at Whitfield School in response to smartphone and social media use by our students. We will share any related changes or initiatives with you in future communications.

Thank you for your consideration of the Joint Statement recommendations. Please also find below a collection of additional information and resources on this important issue.

Best wishes to you and your children as the summer vacation continues.

Sincerely,

Chris Cunningham, Ph.D.
Head of School

Additional Resources and Initiatives:

• Copies of Anxious Generation will be available to check out from Carol Solomon, assistant to the head of school and assistant head of school, in the front office. Anxious Generation can also be purchased here.
• Ginny Fendell, MSW, LCSW, director of health & wellness, will lead a series of parent discussions on this topic during the 2024-25 school year, with timing to be announced in August.

Current Phone Use Policies (pg. 27 of the 2023-24 Student/Family Handbook):

Whitfield's cell phone policy is intended to leverage the size of its community and increase student connection to peers, faculty, and staff. In addition, the policy allows for students to have a break from the pressures of social media and other digital content, which provides opportunities to better support the Habits of Mind & Heart.

1. Student cell phones must remain turned off during the school day.
2. Students who violate this policy will have their phones secured in the Main Office and their parents will be notified. Additional consequences may be given after one warning has been given to the student.
3. Students are allowed to use their cell phones at the end of the academic day. At that time, they must abide by the Whitfield School Acceptable Use Policy outlined in the Handbook on page 12.
4. Earbuds and other devices that connect to cell phones are similarly not allowed during the school day, unless given express permission from a teacher for usage. Students are not allowed to wear earbuds during classes, advisory, ac lab, assembly, lunch, or passing periods. Earbuds will be confiscated and turned into the main office for pick up at the end of the day, and further consequences will follow after an initial reminder.
5. Smartwatches, if actively used for any other purpose than for telling time, may also not be used during the school day. Smartwatches that are found to be in use in ways similar to a cell phone (i.e., communication, gaming, notes) or earbuds will also be confiscated and turned into the main office for pick up at the end of the day, and further consequences will follow after an initial reminder.

These policies will continue to be reviewed, and any changes will be shared in August along with the 2024-25 Student/Family Handbook.

Excerpt from: Surgeon General: Why I’m Calling for a Warning Label on Social Media Platforms:

“The rest of society can play a role also. Schools should ensure that classroom learning and social time are phone-free experiences. Parents, too, should create phone-free zones around bedtime, meals, and social gatherings to safeguard their kids’ sleep and real-life connections — both of which have direct effects on mental health. And they should wait until after middle school to allow their kids access to social media. This is much easier said than done, which is why parents should work together with other families to establish shared rules so no parents have to struggle alone or feel guilty when their teens say they are the only ones who have to endure limits. And young people can build on teen-focused efforts like the Log Off movement and Wired Human to support one another in reforming their relationship with social media and navigating online environments safely.” Read more.