Sample letter to your legislator about establishing screen time guidelines
We are so pleased that a committee of the Maryland state legislature is considering a bill to establish health and safety guidelines for the use of digital devices in schools. This is a great model for other states.
We suggest that you contact your state legislators (and you could also try local city officials) asking them to introduce a similar bill.
Here’s a sample email:
Dear (legislator)
We would like to request that you consider sponsoring a bill in this or the next legislative session that would address the growing exposure to digital devices that our children are experiencing in many schools.
The dangers of overexposure to digital devices are just beginning to be defined and tracked. The national group Parents Across America, of which I am a member, recently published an extensive collection of information and opinion on the dangers of misuse and overuse of digital devices which raises a number of serious concerns.
(link: http://parentsacrossamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/EdTechposition-paperfinal8-17-16.pdf)
As parents, we take full responsibility for the amount of time our children spend on devices at home, but we need your help to address the growing use of digital devices and screen time in schools.
We are pleased that the Maryland legislature is considering a bill to establish health and safety guidelines for the use of digital devices in schools, and ask that you consider introducing a similar bill as soon as possible.
The Maryland bill has broad bipartisan support. Here is its simple language:
House Bill 866
Guidelines and procedures for the use of digital devices in public school classrooms.
(a) The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in consultation with the Department, shall develop health and safety guidelines and procedures for the use of digital devices in public school classrooms.
(b) Beginning in the 2018 – 2019 school year, each county board shall implement the health and safety guidelines and procedures for the use of digital devices in public school classrooms specified in 5subsection (a) of this section
I would be pleased to speak with you or your staff about this important subject. Thank you for your attention.
Our Children @ Risk: PAA reports detail the dangers of EdTech | Parents Across America - http://parentsacrossamerica.org/?p=6320
