Haidt’s arguments track with my classroom experience, Julie. I endorse bell-to-bell phone bans, but it’s time to follow up on that policy. While many districts jumped aboard that train very quickly, many haven’t implemented the restriction successfully, including in my jurisdiction. We now need to audit schools to ensure that they’re meeting those expectations.

I also endorse his views on free play, and I think that Haidt’s position is well-suited to parents and families in welcoming new, common sense norms.

In schools, we need to go further, and I think we need to begin a much more serious professional conversation about what educators can and should do. Administrative policy matters. We need to take the architecture of educational environments seriously (including digital infrastructure). But most importantly, we need a teaching practice that is truly responsive to the 21st century.

I’m beginning to develop some ideas around what I call a “Pedagogy of Cultivated Attention”, which will unfold in my writing over the next weeks and months. I’d love it if you and others would be interested in following along.