I am a student, one of the thousands impacted by the use of the IXL learning platform in our educational system. It's not just about battling with others for high scores anymore. Now, we deal with the additional stress and anxiety that the IXL platform implants in us. The hours spent attempting to achieve near-perfect scores on lessons leads to unbearable anxiety. According to a 2015 study published in School Psychology Quarterly, heightened academic stress correlates strongly with higher anxiety levels in students (Abuzeid et al., 2015).

Furthermore, the ever-looming possibility of a single mistake resetting our progress on IXL drags our morale down to unprecedented levels. Instead of promoting a healthy learning environment, the IXL Learning Platform forces us to endure a constant fear of failure, stunting our intellectual growth. Studies show that continued stress inhibits brain development and hampers our ability to learn and retain information (Lupien et al., 2009). This is not the kind of environment we should be fostering.

The detrimental effects of this platform on students' mental well-being need urgent addressing. We call upon educational institutions and decision-makers to end the use of the IXL learning platform that harms more than it benefits. Advocating for our mental health should not be synonymous with fighting against our tools of education. Sign this petition to stand with us for this cause.