Dear Parents,
Our children are growing up in a world that looks very different from the one we knew. In the past decade, smartphones and social media have reshaped childhood—taking the place of free play, deep friendships, and even sleep. Today, kids scroll through highlight reels, compare themselves to filtered perfection, and spend more time in virtual spaces than in real ones. As a result, something heartbreaking has happened: our children are suffering.
We’re seeing it everywhere—in rising rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and loneliness. In fact, between 2010 and 2020, the number of high school girls reporting persistent sadness and hopelessness more than doubled. Suicide rates among young girls nearly did too. Emergency room visits for self-harm spiked by over 180%. Boys are withdrawing, struggling with motivation, and losing their drive to achieve.
This is not random. It is a crisis. The cause is clear: the digital world moved in faster than we were ready for. The explosive rise of smartphone and social media usage became the dominant spaces for social interaction.
As educators and caretakers, we cannot stand by while screens steal the joy, focus, and mental health of the next generation. That’s why we are taking bold action—starting this school year, we will remove cell phones from all Crawford County classrooms for students and staff alike. This is not a punishment. It’s a gift: a chance to reclaim attention, connection, and growth.
To support this initiative, we are also asking that all personal belongings, including phones and other electronic devices, be securely stored out of sight in book bags, backpacks or purses during the school day. This step helps create a focused learning space and reduces unnecessary distractions.
We know change is hard. We expect questions, concerns, even pushback. But what’s harder is watching a generation lose its confidence, its resilience, and its spirit. Our mission is to help kids rediscover their ability to think deeply, speak freely, solve problems, and form real relationships—and we need your support to get there. This decision is grounded in evidence and aimed at improving both student achievement and school culture.
This isn’t about rejecting technology. It’s about restoring balance. About showing students that they are worth the discomfort of change. About giving them a chance to experience life outside the constant pull and anxiety of the screen.
We’re not asking for easy—we’re asking for meaningful. We believe this will be one of the most important decisions we make. And with your partnership, we believe it will work.
Let’s do the hard, right thing—together.
Sincerely,
Anthony Aikens, Superintendent