Waynesboro Schools to participate in livestream chat on cell-phone free education

Waynesboro Schools is one of 64 school systems in Virginia that will participate in a livestream fireside chat on cell-phone free education.

First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin and award-winning social psychologist, author and researcher Dr. Jonathan Haidt will lead discussion during the chat broadcasted live on Thursday, September 19, 2024, to all participating schools.

Caroline County, Charlottesville, Colonial Heights, Fluvanna County, Floyd County, Galax, Greene County, Henrico County, Lexington, Lynchburg, Richmond, Roanoke, Stafford and Winchester school systems will also participate in the livestream.

Haidt is the author of “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” and he will discuss how the book’s findings inform communities and schools in limiting social media and cell phone use to help restore childhood and play. Haidt and Youngkin will discuss the book’s findings between 7 and 8 p.m.

Participating schools can use the chat as an opportunity between 8 and 9 p.m. to facilitate community conversations with parents, educators, students and families to create best practices for the use of cell phones and social media both in and out of school. Each school will receive a facilitator’s guide to the event, including materials and technical guidance.

The list of participating schools is online and will be updated as schools continue to sign up. Divisions can contact [email protected] for assistance with signing up schools to host an event or getting added to the list.