Recently, I read the book, "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt along with my fellow principals and school leaders.  I highly recommend parents read (or listen to) this book both personally and professionally.  This book is the number one non-fiction book of the year according to GoodReads.com and made the top of the list for the New York Times Notable Non-Fiction Books of 2024.

In "The Anxious Generation," Jonathon Haidt explores the rising tide of anxiety among today’s youth and the damaging effects SMART phones and social media can have on developing youth, especially middle schoolers. Through insightful research and compelling narratives, he discusses how societal pressures, technology, and changing family dynamics contribute to this growing concern. He attests that these addictive devices and platforms have deprived middle school students of developing socially and physically.  He emphasizes the importance of understanding mental health and provides practical strategies for parents and educators to support young people in navigating the challenges associated with SMART phones and social media.

I feel so strongly about imploring parents to read this book that we have ordered numerous copies to give to our public library, and we will soon have copies for parents to check out in the middle school library.  Please thoughtfully consider reading this book to better inform yourself on how to best navigate your child having a SMART phone and/or access to social media.  

Principal Chris Hinger