Fairfield State Legislator To Moderate Virtual Town Hall On Screens In Schools

FAIRFIELD, CT — A statewide virtual town hall on the use of screens and technology in schools is scheduled for 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 23, moderated by Fairfield state Rep. Jennifer Leeper, co-chair of the Connecticut House Education Committee.

"Rethinking Screens in Our Schools: A Community Conversation" will bring together educators, experts, policymakers and parents to discuss classroom technology, student attention and mental health, school safety, cellphone policies and steps parents and schools can take regarding technology in learning environments.

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The panel will include a veteran teacher and literacy coach, a school principal, a child psychologist and a law enforcement officer. The participants will discuss the effects of phones and screens on children from their professional perspectives.

"As technology has become increasingly embedded in our classrooms, we need to be willing to take a closer look at what is working and what isn't," Leeper said in a statement. "This conversation is an opportunity for parents, administrators and policymakers to hear directly from educators and experts and become more informed about an issue that affects their children and constituents every day."

Regina von Gootkin, founder of the Screen Smart Initiative and organizer of the Connecticut Screen Reduction Working Group, said the event is intended to provide parents with information about screen use in schools.

"Many parents simply don't know how much of the school day their children are spending on screens or what the research is telling us," von Gootkin said. "Our goal is to give parents information and practical tools they need to ask questions, start conversations and advocate for more intentional use of technology in the classroom."

The event follows recent Connecticut State Board of Education recommendations calling for bell-to-bell cellphone policies and more purposeful use of screens in schools.

The program will include a moderated panel discussion and an audience question-and-answer session. The virtual event is free and open to the public.

Registration is available at https://www.screensmartinitiative.com/events. Those unable to attend may register to receive a recording after the event.