New School Year, New Policy: Improving Mental Health at Hoover High School in Des Moines

Hoover High School in Des Moines, Iowa is introducing a new policy that prohibits students from using their phones, headphones, and air pods during the school day. This change is aimed at improving students’ mental health and will be implemented at the beginning of the next school year.

As part of the Hoover Mental Health Movement, Associate Principal Rob Randazzo is leading the initiative to eliminate digital distractions in order to improve students’ mental health. He has observed an increase in anxiety and depression among students and believes that re-imagining the school environment without phones is necessary.

Many teenagers today are more digitally connected than ever before, with access to smartphones and spending over eight hours a day on social media. This has raised concerns among school administrators at Hoover High School regarding the well-being of students. Gen Z spends more time on social media than previous generations, which can contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

To address these concerns, Randazzo has implemented a ban on phones and headphones within classrooms, as well as encouraged parents to delay giving phones to their kids until age 14 and limit social media use until age 16. These changes are aimed at helping students reconnect with their families, community, and school while reducing their screen time.

While some may see this move as drastic or difficult to implement, Randazzo believes that it will ultimately benefit students by reducing distractions and allowing them to focus on their studies while also improving their mental health. He hopes that these changes will not only improve academic performance but also enhance students’ creativity, invention, and overall quality of work.

Caden Walker acknowledges that he spends a lot of time scrolling through Instagram throughout the day. He believes that his phone usage has contributed to his mental health issues by providing constant distractions.

The implementation of this new policy shows that schools are becoming increasingly aware of the impact technology can have on young people’s mental health. As such, they are taking steps to reduce digital distractions in order to improve students’ overall well-being.

Overall, this new policy represents a positive step towards creating a safer school environment for all students at Hoover High School in Des Moines