Dear Families,

Did you know the first cell phone came out 40 years ago in 1973? In 1990, about 11 million people owned a cell phone. In 2020, the number had risen to 2.5 billion. Mobile phones have now become so commonplace that it’s hard to remember a time without them. As cell phone use has increased, the average age of young users has decreased. Recent poll results now cite that many children receive their first phone by age 10 (talker.news, 7/25/22) compared to age 15 or older in 2008 (pewresearch.org).

Many factors play into parents’ decisions to buy cell phones for their children. The idea of being able to communicate whenever children are away from home can bring great peace of mind. Unfortunately, cell phones today are not just mobile phones, they are small computers capable of downloading a myriad of social media apps and other communication tools. This is where the danger lies for young cell users. These apps are entertaining and can be addicting. Many of them are inappropriate for young users, but they are easy to find and view.

Over the last year, I have seen many more instances of student technology addiction and bullying through social media and text than in years past. Additionally, we are experiencing more students being distracted by phone use before, during, and after school hours. 

For grades K-8, we discourage students from bringing cell phones to school. Students always have access to school phones and may use them with permission from an adult. If students bring a cell phone to school, it is not to be out while they are on campus. Athletes who practice after hours may call parents on a cell if needed, but only with permission from a supervising adult. While most high schoolers have phones, we expect that they will not be used in classrooms.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our school hours free from distraction and focused on student learning. 

Blessings, 

Sherrie Gibelyou

sherrie.gibelyou@ccatacoma.org

253-389-0349