As parents in the Pawtucket School Department, our primary job is to protect and care for our children. While we support focused, distraction-free classrooms, the current blanket implementation of Rhode Island General Law § 16-21-43—which forces students to lock passive smartwatches away in Yondr pouches all day—is an unacceptable level of government overreach.

They are OUR children, not the state's. In the event of an emergency, crisis, or sudden logistical shift, parents have a fundamental right to remain in contact with their children. A total bell-to-bell ban completely severs this vital lifeline.

Many of our children do not use or interact with their watches at all during class time. They wear them for safety during their daily commute and for urgent family coordination. Modern smartwatches already feature built-in parental controls, such as "Schooltime" or "Class Mode," which allow parents to lock the screen down to a basic clock face. This completely eliminates classroom distractions without stripping away a parent's ability to locate or reach their child in a true emergency.

We, the undersigned parents and residents of Pawtucket, demand that the state legislature and the Pawtucket School Committee work together to amend these rules. The state must step back, respect parental rights, and create an explicit exemption for smartwatches that are kept in verified parental restriction modes.

Sign this petition to tell our lawmakers: Let parents protect and communicate with their own children!