7 hours Ago
There was an eerie silence during this morning’s carpool as I drove five teenagers to school. For nearly the entire 20-minute ride, not a word was spoken. At first, I thought little of it, dismissing it as the byproduct of a routine I’ve grown numb to.
But then something caught my attention. I remember my own childhood carpools, filled with chatter about friends, gossip, fashion and crushes. As I glanced in my rearview mirror, I noticed one teen showing their screen to another, a fleeting moment of shared laughter, before both returned to silently scrolling.
It’s a strange irony — that they can be seated so close, their shoulders touching, yet remain isolated by their screens. Crystal Schreck is a resident of Falmouth and co-founder of the group Falmouth Alliance for Thoughtful Technology and the Turn the Tide Coalition, which seeks to unite Maine school districts in approaching technology more thoughtfully. I’m a mother of six, with children ranging in age from 6 to 25.
While this doesn’t make me an expert, it does give me a unique perspective on how childhood has shifted across generations. My oldest grew up riding bikes, climbing trees and knocking on friends’ doors. My youngest, on the other hand, is part of a generation that may never experience the kind of real-life interactions I had.
That’s why I support L.D. 170 , a Maine legislative bill proposing a pilot program to remove personal electronic devices from the academic day.
Simply put, it’s about giving kids a break from their phones so they can focus, learn and rediscover what it’s like to be fully present. Those of us in my generation remember a time before screens dominated every moment. We were the original social network — making friends face-to-face and dealing with the boredom that sparks creativity.
We went outside. We invented ways to occupy our time. We took risks.
We broke things and got into trouble. We also ran lemonade stands, organized cooperative games and learned how to navigate our own worlds. Today’s kids are missing out on this kind of childhood, as nearly every free moment is consumed by scrolling and notifications.
They rarely get the chance to sit with their thoughts, let curiosity guide them or engage in deep, creative thinking. Research shows that excessive screen time can have negative effects on children’s development. Studies link high screen use to increased anxiety, depression and decreased attention spans.
Teachers are witnessing firsthand how these issues affect students’ mental health and their ability to focus in class. L.D.
170 aims to not only reclaim the classroom as a space for real academic learning, but to also reclaim the hallways, cafeteria and other shared spaces in school for real social, interpersonal community building and learning. Kids consumed by digital distraction are not present and struggle to learn in either context. The bill isn’t about banning technology; it’s about setting boundaries in environments designed for education.
Even the most well-meaning students can struggle to focus when they’re constantly being pulled by the lure of their screens. While we can’t entirely blame kids for this attachment — we handed them the devices — we can change course now that we know better. If we don’t, we risk raising a generation unaware of what it’s like to be truly present.
L.D. 170 offers a simple, practical solution: a chance for kids to experience something we once had, even if only during school hours.
It’s a step toward giving children the opportunity to develop skills they might otherwise lose — skills that are foundational to both learning and life. I co-founded the Falmouth Alliance for Thoughtful Technology because I believe kids deserve more than a childhood spent behind screens. Schools should foster deep learning and real-world social interaction.
As parents, educators and community members, we have a responsibility to take action. L.D.
170 is just one piece of the puzzle, but it’s a crucial one. I’m asking for your support to ensure that kids can experience the childhood we once knew — before it’s gone for good. If we do nothing, the next generation may never even know what they’ve missed.
Will there be hope for change then? I’m not sure. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website.
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