Parents of Denton ISD students
how to support policies
Your involvement is essential
At Phone-Free Denton ISD, we believe that real change starts with community action. As parents, you have a powerful voice in shaping the policies that affect your children’s education and well-being.
Here are two impactful ways you can get involved and help us advocate for a phone-free learning environment in our schools.
Email school staff
One of the most direct ways to influence change is by reaching out to the people at the heart of our children’s education—school administrators and teachers. We encourage you to express your support for phone-free policies by sending a thoughtful email to your child’s school principal or the school district administration. Sharing your perspective as a parent and a community member can make a significant difference.
To make this process easier, we have prepared a template email that you can personalize and send. This email outlines the benefits of phone-free policies, based on research and data, such as those found in Jonathan Haidt’s influential book, “The Anxious Generation”. Your advocacy can underscore the importance of creating an environment that enhances focus, reduces anxiety, and promotes better academic outcomes.
Sign the petition
Another powerful way to show your support is by signing our petition for phone-free schools in Denton ISD. This petition will be presented to the school board to demonstrate community support for implementing and enforcing phone-free policies across the district.
By signing, you not only voice your agreement with this initiative but also join a growing movement of parents, educators, and students who believe in the importance of minimizing digital distractions in our classrooms.
Sign the petition now and join us in making a difference!
Recommended Books
Recommended Podcasts
Catalysts for Change. Can Teens Survive the Digital World? Professor Jonathan Haidt on Social Media and Teen Mental Health. 38 minutes
Listen at: Podcast homepage, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Hidden Brain, with Shankar Vedantam. Escaping the Matrix. 55 minutes
Listen at: Podcast homepage, Apple Podcasts
Email template for school administrators
Subject: Enhancing Our School’s Phone-Free Policy for Improved Academic Focus
Dear [Principal’s Name],
I hope this message finds you well. My name is [Your Name], and I am a parent of [Your Child’s Name] in [Your Child’s Grade] at [School Name]. I am also part of a parent-led advocacy group, Phone-Free Denton ISD, dedicated to promoting focused and engaging learning environments through reduced smartphone use in schools. You can learn more about our initiatives and goals on our website at phonefreedentonisd.org .
Our group is inspired by insights from Jonathan Haidt’s book, “The Anxious Generation,” which details the significant impact of smartphones on students’ mental health and academic performance. The book presents compelling evidence supporting the benefits of phone-free educational settings, which we believe could greatly benefit our school community.
Currently, I understand that our district has a policy that restricts phone use during school hours, which is a fantastic starting point. However, it has come to my attention that the enforcement of this policy often falls on our teachers, adding to their already substantial responsibilities.
To support our dedicated educators and enhance student engagement, I propose we consider a “lock-up” phone policy. This could involve securely storing phones in lockers, investing in phone lockers, or using a system like Yondr pouches to keep phones inaccessible during school hours.
Such a strategy would alleviate the burden on our teachers, allowing them to focus more on teaching rather than monitoring phone use, and promote an environment where students can thrive academically and socially without constant digital distractions.
I believe that [School Name] is a leader in adopting innovative educational practices that enhance learning experiences. Implementing this policy could not only improve concentration and reduce distractions but also set a positive example for other schools in our district.
I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this further and explore how we can collectively support this initiative. Thank you for considering this enhancement to our school’s policies. I look forward to your feedback and hope we can collaborate on making our children’s educational environment even better.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Parent of [Your Child’s Name], [Your Child’s Grade]
Best practices
- Edit the template email above and be sure to add your personal details.
- Always maintain a respectful and professional tone, regardless of the issue at hand. Avoid overly emotional language, and focus on being constructive. Respect and professionalism foster a positive dialogue and are more likely to result in a favorable response.
- If you don’t receive a response within a reasonable timeframe (typically a week or two for non-urgent matters), it’s appropriate to send a polite follow-up. Sometimes emails can be overlooked due to the high volume that school administrators receive.
Approach the interaction with a positive attitude and an open mind. Even if the conversation doesn’t immediately resolve all issues, maintaining a constructive and cooperative relationship with school administrators is beneficial for future interactions.