Hi Everyone, 
Every few weeks or so, I tend to use Grey Matters as a memo about articles and studies that I’ve read or still working through, that I think may be of interest to some or many of you and speak to subjects we’ve discussed in the past. What I’ve included below represents a pretty broad continuum of topics and information, but what I consider even more impressive is that I’ve found recent articles that don’t actually include the phrase “quid pro quo” within the body of their texts.
For our families who observe Diwali, the festival of lights, I hope any plans you had this past weekend was full of joy and celebration with friends and family. For the past few years I have included this article in the Washington Post, written by someone who uses her family’s celebration of Diwali to reflect on the dynamics that often accompany a bicultural upbringing and formation of identity. I share it again knowing that the experience of straddling different worlds and cultures is familiar to many of you. I am also including this recent piece, also in the Washington Post, that attempts to provide those of us less familiar with the origins and aspects of the holiday with a general primer on how Diwali has various meanings and interpretations within and amongst those who observe the holiday.
The topic of school start times continues to evolve at both the local and national level. The state of
California recently passed a law that no high school in the state can start before 8:30am (and middle schools no earlier than 8:00am), and besides an exemption for some rural communities, has given school districts three years to make the adjustment. Unsurprisingly, this new law has been met with mixed reactions. Closer to home, communities throughout Massachusetts continue to wrestle with this topic, and the very real complications that usually come in the form of figuring out the transportation element. Andover, the town where I grew up, is currently embroiled in some pretty passionate debate around start times, and possible solutions that include making elementary school start times earlier so that the middle and high school start times can be later.
In a classic case of frequency illusion where we tend to see new information or ideas “everywhere” after it’s been the focus of our attention, I have recently felt like all I see are articles about talking to teenagers about internet pornography. For those still recovering from my first mention of this topic, I’m not trying to overwhelm you! Frequency illusion aside, the ongoing research and statistics that I read on this subject suggests to me that this is a topic that is receiving more attention for a reason. Here is one of those pieces I’ve recently come across, from the Child Mind Institute, that also offers guidance to families about how to enter a conversation with your kids on this topic.
Here’s a piece from the New York Times that I haven’t finished reading, called “Can You Really Be Addicted to Video Games?”, which I will probably put at the top of my reading pile after a certain member of our household took advantage of a tired parent who fell asleep a bit early last night before checking to see if the kids had ended their sessions on technology.
This piece in Scientific American, “Social Media Has Not Destroyed a Generation” is highlighting recent studies that are pushing back against reports and previous studies that have made claims about the damaging effects of digital devices and social media usage on younger generations. They’re making the argument that earlier studies that suggest increased use of social media has led to a rise in mental health problems (and other issues) amongst adolescents, is a case of mistakenly arguing that it’s the chicken before the egg, and not the other way around. That piece specifically cites a 2017 article in The Atlantic written by researcher Jean Twenge, “Has the Smartphone Destroyed a Generation”, which I included in an edition of Grey Matters that year. I will freely admit that not only did I include Twenge’s article in 2017, but I have felt that many of her ideas have resonated with my own observations in recent years about shifts in behaviors, tendencies, and challenges within adolescents. So this recent piece in Scientific American is giving me something to think about in terms of the conclusions that I’ve held on to.
A piece that I haven’t finished, and has a title that makes you wonder where it’s going, here’s this recent piece from the Boston Globe, “Why kids today are so rude -- and why a little bad behavior might sometimes be a good thing”. While I haven’t finished this piece, I did appreciate this important reminder from the author, and an introduction to a new term that might prove helpful moving forward: “Rude kids may be everywhere, but it’s also true that complaining about the younger generation is an age-old rite of passage. David Finkelhor, a sociology professor at the University of New Hampshire, coined the term “juvenoia” -- “the exaggerated fear of the influence of social change on youth” -- to explain the phenomenon.
Here are additional reminders and updates for the next few weeks:
Halloween Dress Up Day is this Thursday and we’re looking forward to the parade of costumes that will likely enter the building. Please remember that participation is completely optional and the rate of student (and teacher) participation is typically around 50%, so no student should feel compelled to come in a costume. During any costume planning, please continue to help your child keep in mind that we must avoid including props that mimic weapons (swords, firearms, knives, etc.), clothing that includes profanity, and no masks (we need to see your faces!). It’s a great tradition, and we all look forward to a fun and spirited day.
We have scheduled a picture retake day for this Friday, November 1. If your child ordered a photo package and you would like to retake the photo, please have your child bring in the original package on that day (and to come dressed for the re-take!). If your student missed Picture Day earlier this year, this is also the time for him or her to have a photo taken. Even if you don’t have plans to order a photo package, it is important to have everyone’s photo taken so they will be included in this year’s yearbook.
A friendly reminder that there is NO SCHOOL on Tuesday, November 5 for our District’s Professional Learning Day. There is also NO SCHOOL on Monday, November 11 for Veteran’s Day.
We are close to finishing up the Fall season for our school sports programs. Congratulations to our Field Hockey, Soccer, and Cross Country teams on a great season - both individually and collectively. We hope the students who participated in these programs found it to be a worthwhile experience. As we prepare to enter the Winter season, I wanted to provide a few friendly reminders about extracurricular activities. First, our Winter sports program includes Boys and Girls Basketball teams (with separate teams for 7th and 8th grade), and Cheerleading. The tryout schedule will be posted within the next few weeks with start dates planned for shortly after the Thanksgiving Break. You can view the tryout schedule (when it’s up) and review the FamilyID process on the Athletics page of our website. For students who participated in a Fall sport and might now have a bit more time after school, we encourage them to consider joining one of our extracurricular clubs and activities. Students are welcome to join these programs throughout the year and can review the many options by visiting the Clubs and Activities page of our website.
We have, unbelievably enough, already reached the point in the year where some of our RJ Grey students and families are exploring private schools as options for next year, and I’d like to re-send the following note that I share each year: Our Counseling Office works with families on the application process, and they have created a number of documents and guides to assist families. You can download the following information by clicking on the following links: (1) Private School Application Procedures; (2) Private School Tracking Form; (3) Consent for Release of Student Records; (4) Activity and Employment Record. These documents will also be posted on our RJ Grey website shortly. One aspect of the application process that I’d like to highlight is the writing of teacher/counselor recommendations. Our teachers and counselors are happy to support students in their applications, and take seriously the crafting of a recommendation. With that in mind, we ask that families honor the request that teachers be approached about letters of recommendation at least 4 weeks in advance of when those letters are due. In many situations, parents initially reach out to teachers on behalf of their child, which is perfectly fine. It’s also important for the student to speak in person with their teachers about their interest in private schools. This is valuable for a few reasons. First, hearing a bit more about the student’s interest in the schools to which they are applying gives the teacher a better sense of what might be useful to include in the letter. Secondly, having a teacher find recommendation forms on her desk without any prior explanation from a student or parent is never the ideal way to start the conversation about a recommendation. By no means are teachers and counselors expecting students to feel indebted to them for writing a letter, and forever genuflect whenever they enter the room. However, speaking directly to the teacher is, I think, central to showing an appropriate level of appreciation for this additional task the students are asking their teacher to complete on their behalf. If you think your child may be a bit nervous with this task, you might encourage them to speak with the counselor, who can offer some tips and even help them practice. Your child’s counselor is also, in general, a great resource for various aspects of the application process.
Have a great week, everyone.
Cheers,
