Remember those Driver’s Ed videos? Supposed to teach us to drive safe, but really they were just low-budget horror films with cars. Did it work? Nope. We walked out of class, grabbed our keys, and tested the laws of physics on the way home. Driver’s Ed: scaring us straight since never.

Scare tactics have never worked on teens. They may find the movies interesting (as we did) or the "scary" stories about online interesting...but it never seems to be an effective way to get kids to stop what they are doing. However, giving them tools they can rely on in the moment is proven to be incredibly effective.

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room if you live in Alabama. No phones in school this year. Wait. What? I know. I know. As we all collectively clutched our pearls and thought for sure our children would never be ok without them…they in fact…are. Word on the street is they are thriving.

We are a week into the school year here.  I have been chatting with students and teachers as well as just keeping my finger on the pulse of what “folks are saying”.  Largely through FB community groups.  (Have y’all ever been on one of those things?  Whew.  Tread carefully.  Things are WILD in there.). But I digress.  When it was first announced that phones would not be allowed in schools, there was concern.  From students?   One would think they would have the biggest issue with their constant communication device taken away for ….holds breath…at least 6 hours a day.  That has not been the case.  Here are a few responses I have gotten when chatting with students “I am SO happy we can not have them!”  “I feel better now that everyone is not on them.” “I hope it stays this way.” “It has been AMAZING!”