Providing a more interactive and engaging way to learn, school iPads offer many educational benefits to our middle schoolers. They allow access to a vast number of educational resources and apps that can enhance their understanding of various subjects.

At the same time however, school iPads can be a major distraction for students, who can easily navigate away from assignments and access the internet during class time, despite school firewall protection. YouTube in particular poses a significant concern because of the inappropriate and potentially harmful content available.

Most middle schoolers do not have the necessary skills to control their impulses and make responsible decisions when using technology because the frontal cortex, which is responsible for decision making, self-control and resistance to temptation, continues to mature and develops to full capacity only in the mid-20s.

Because their brains are still developing, and as middle schoolers are more susceptible to impulsivity and risky behaviors, it is important for schools to provide guidance to students on how to properly behave and be safe online. It is also important to offer appropriate parental controls to school iPads, for those families who choose to.

Therefore, we ask Wayzata School Board to invest necessary funds to:

• Teach middle schoolers to have a responsible and respectful online behavior. Schools should educate students about the potential dangers and consequences of their actions online and also provide guidance and rules for appropriate online conduct. By offering classes covering topics such as cyberbullying, internet safety or how to use social media responsibly, we teach middle schoolers self-discipline, as well as online etiquette and expectations for their behavior.
• Create efficient parental controls for school devices and work with interested parents to ensure that students use the iPads in a responsible and positive way. This collaboration between schools and parents promotes a safe and productive learning environment and fosters a sense of trust and communication between all of us.

Parents and caregivers, we need your help. By signing this petition, you show your interest in having Wayzata middle schools teach classes to help our students learn proper online behavior and safety in a rapidly changing digital world, as well as implement a system that promotes educational use on school iPads and limits distracting use.