Social Media and Cell Phones North Fayette Valley High School

Cell phones and student use of social media is the most disruptive force that has come about in my 32 years as a public educator. It has had a negative impact on student learning and emotional well-being.

Teenagers Make Bad Choices Dr. Frances E. Jensen’s groundbreaking book, The Teenage Brain, highlights the fact that people’s brains usually don’t fully develop until about their mid-20s. And, the last part of the brain to fully develop is the front of the brain, the prefrontal cortex and frontal cortex. These are the areas where we have insight, empathy, and executive functions such as impulse control, risk- taking and decision making. Adolescents are still developing their abilities to reason, inhibit impulses, plan and problem solve. In summary, adolescents think they have all the answers but do not understand that they are still developing a significant part of their brain that allows them to rationalize their decisions and accurately plan the consequences of their actions.

This Happened At NFVHS Last Year “Damn I love whores” -- A snapchat caption with a picture of two girls circled) “You better tell Maggie to leave Jared the f--k alone, or I will.” -- Instagram “Too bad we don’t want your opinion, we are not changing the song for one a-----e who doesn’t like it, it’s staying the same. The point of the video is to show our pictures not stupid s--t that we see all the time. But thanks” -- sent to a student working on a video “Marcus found his girlfriend” -- A caption on a photo of one our our special needs students “Bring you F-----G money n----r f----t. “ Sent to a fellow student “I have everyone’s nudes, then they don’t f--k with me, Duuuuuhh.” -- A reply sent asking if a girl had a sexted photo of another girl. “I want to do karaoke for MHAT” -- caption over a picture of simulated wrist cutting and sent to many students “NFV was almost whore free today with state dance, but we gotta few left. What a bummer.” -- posted on Intragram “Tell your coona-- of a mother to give you your money.”

22% Of teenage girls have sent nude or semi-nude photos of themselves.

Two Separate But Related Issues Cell phones and the distraction that they cause. The crude, inappropriate, and/or hurtful things that are being sent to others.

General Rules for Cell Phone Use Most teachers have rules against use in their classroom. The details vary because the context of courses vary. Students can use their phones at lunch. Students are not to be on their cell phone in the hallway. No images are to be taken of students at school or school events without their consent. Cell phones and other devices that can take images are to be used for that purpose in restroom and locker rooms.

Nearly every parent in our district owns the phone their child uses and pays the bills on that phone. THIS IS YOUR PHONE! Do not be afraid of taking it away from them, or insisting that they follow rules you set!

What Else Can Parents Do? Have a very serious and open conversation with your child about their cell phone use. Require that they “friend you” or give you access to all of their social media accounts, and take time on a regular basis to sit down with them and look through them. Do not communicate with your child digitally during the school day. Contact the office! Be a positive role model with your cell phone and social media use. Do not assume your child is standing on the sidelines. More than likely they are involved, or are aware of negative or inappropriate things that are happening. If you are aware of inappropriate things that are going on, don’t assume we know! Let us know if it is having a negative impact on your child, or you suspect it could be harmful to others. Have them leave their phone at home.

Contact: Todd Wolverton 422-3852 twolverton@nfv.k12.ia.us