​Technology and Self Control

This generation of young people are incredibly connected and spend a lot of time using, watching and interacting with various technology platforms.

This is part of the modern world and we need to embrace technology, as there are certainly many positives associated with the ability to find answers and stay in touch with each other. Whether our young people are addicted to technology is debatable.

Many adults – myself included – spend a portion of the day, checking emails, browsing social media and connecting with friends. The major questions I would ask is: Do our students have the self-control to put their phone down? Can they stop themselves from checking it late at night?

I believe from speaking with students and seeing the stress and lack of sleep some of our students have, they DO NOT have the skills to stop themselves. They are young, they have a fear of missing out on something and it is a key way in which they deal with boredom. So, if they don’t have the skills to stop themselves – what can we do?

Picking a time at night in which WiFi is disconnected or phone and laptop technology is placed in a common area like a kitchen is vital so students get adequate sleep and, in turn, make a significant improvement to their working memory and mental health.

Many of our young people don’t have the self-control to stop themselves. This is not a punishment; it is our way to help keep them safe, achieve their goals and ensure they are adequately prepared for life – day to day.

Mr Aaron Davey - Coordinator of Pastoral Care 7-10