From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope this article finds you well. The whole school is in a high intensity work phase with a combination of work tasks due, exams and end of semester assessments occurring and reports to be written. The staff provide consistent curriculum delivery, assessment for learning, and assessment of learning. The reporting of this is consistently updated on Compass with the final deadline on the last day of term (June 28th). Early next term senior students will be engaging with their data with a product called ‘My Learning Growth’ which requires them to set academic and wellbeing goals for next term.  We will be encouraging all parents to engage with the reports on Compass and to respond to the survey that has been posted out recently. One of our key strategies this year is to increase the number of opportunities for parent engagement and we would like to know more about your engagement with Compass and assesment reporting. 

I would like to inform you that I am taking leave of absence for the last two weeks of term. Kristie Satilmis will be Acting Principal. She will be ably supported by our Leading Teachers as they navigate the beginning of semester 2 for all students. The final semester for our Year 12 students. I am excited to attend the Year 12 formal this Thursday (13th June) as it is an annual highlight and a sign that the serious work is about to start for these fine young people. 

Last newsletter I wrote about concepts of fate control, internal and external locus of control, and stereotype threat. Recently there has been some significant dialogue in the staffroom, on the boundary lines, and I am sure in some families about the struggle society is having with the impacts on young people of social media. The concepts above are relevant to the constant battle we have with phones as devices, and social media use. 

The film ‘The Social Dilemma’ is a film from 2020 and it blew the whistle on the techniques of social media platforms in creating addictive environments online. Tristan Harris, author, and Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist, were both involved in this movie and recently released a podcast episode called ‘Jonathan Haidt On How to Solve the Teen Mental Health Crisis’. The toll of social media addiction and the strategies in this podcast received significant airplay. A book ‘The Anxious Generation’ has recently been published and is adding to the plethora of material warning us all about the perils of allowing our young people to have age-inappropriate access to online material and under-supervising them online. 

These three productions explore the impact of digital technology and social media on individuals and society, focusing on common themes such as:

Negative Effects on Mental Health: excessive use of social media and digital technology can contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and decreased well-being. They also highlight how constant connectivity and comparison on social media escalate feelings of loneliness and isolation. 

Manipulation by Technology: Algorithms and design features within social media platforms are designed to capture and retain users' attention, particularly in the developing brains of young people. This comes at the expense of their wellbeing and elevates the chances of addictive behaviours. The other aspect of this is spreading misinformation and narrowing the perspective of people to key search topics. 

Impact on Social Interactions: Interpersonal relationships and social interactions are impacted. Online communication trends are becoming part of people’s reality. The loss of genuine, face-to-face connections, as well as the prevalence of cyberbullying and online harassment, are impacting individuals and communities every day.

Concerns about Privacy and Data Security: Concerns about the privacy implications of digital technology, including the collection and use of personal data by tech companies, is largely ignored by individuals in preference for convenience. The erosion of privacy is real.

Call for Digital Literacy and Regulation: All these productions advocate for increased awareness and education about the effects of digital technology, as well as the need for regulatory measures to protect users from harmful online content and practices. They emphasize the importance of developing critical thinking skills and responsible digital citizenship.

Returning to the concept of fate control, individuals and society can work towards creating a healthier and more balanced relationship with digital technology. The benefits of connectivity and information sharing can be maximised while minimising the risks to mental health and wellbeing. It is possible to have both, and early intervention is best practice. Promotion of healthy habits, reducing adult screen time, setting shared boundaries around device usage, delaying the purchase of devices for children under 16, teaching of ethics across learning areas, diligently promoting and enforcing the phone policy at school, (including opportunities for screen free time in break times and in classrooms) and having proactive conversations with our young people are starting points. 

Auburn High School staff are discussing these strategies in relation to supplementing the mobile phone policy. Reducing distraction, minimising temptation, and living our school values through our online and IT usage.

Over the holidays I suggest you take the time to watch, listen and read these three thought- provoking productions with your children and see what they think. 

Until next time, 

Ross Pritchard 

PRINCIPAL