From Assistant Principal Pastoral Care
The Devil can cite scripture for his purpose
Shakespeare (who will probably grow up to be a fair writer) wrote in The Merchant of Venice,
“The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.”
And I guess that if you look hard enough, with your innate biases, you can substantiate almost anything with “expert testimony.” But having declared this, two Sydney Morning Herald articles towards the end of last year caught my attention.
The first was by David Crowe - Children given unrealistic view of real-life gambling through exposure to gaming apps, websites, researchers warn (15.11.22). His general premise was,
“Children and adolescents are exposed to growing risks from online games that make them more likely to graduate to harmful or addictive gambling, according to researchers who are calling for stronger federal rules over “predatory” games.”
Some very interesting reading in the news at the moment, generally, about cashless pokies, losses, societal impact…
The second was by Samantha Selinger-Morris - A social media ban helped the Socceroos win at the World Cup. Should we follow suit? (2.12.22) She quoted, initially, coach Graham Arnold,
“Mentally it’s the biggest thing ... it affects your brain; it doesn’t matter how fit you are, technically how good you are or how good the tactics are, they don’t take it in because they’re mentally not ready,” Arnold said this week of the negative impact that social media has on his players.”
And then Professor Philip Smith of the University of Melbourne:
“If you are over-aroused, then you’re kind of chaotic and disorganised and anxious, and you don’t perform well,” says Smith…The more time we spend on social media where we’re getting “constant little rewards for minimal effort”, the more we want to continue to do that and the less we want to focus on tasks that are “aversive” and require prolonged focus to complete, he says. “We’re in a sense sort of conditioning ourselves away from staying on difficult, challenging tasks [or] anything slightly boring,” says Smith.”
You know where I am going with this, I’m sure. And since I’m on a roll, I’ll throw in a little Headspace advice on the importance of sleep:
“When we are not getting enough sleep it is harder to manage the stress in our lives, to keep anxiety in check and it can impact our mood. We will have less energy, be more irritable and even have poorer physical health. Sleep gives us time for our brain to process all that we have done and learned during the day…Not only does too much screen time take away precious sleep, but using technology before bedtime makes it harder to fall asleep, and can also reduce the quality of sleep, which can make us feel sleepier the next day. Looking at screens before bedtime has a stimulating effect on our minds… ”
Guess the percentage of Australian teenagers estimated to be sleep deprived. (Answer at the end).
Might I humbly suggest that prohibition is fraught – developing character and values through communication, routine and example is more likely to have some effect.
I know, it isn’t easy. And, I promise you, I claim no great moral authority (but let me tell you the latest thing to get up right my nose is the number of young people having a “conversation” with you with their ear buds in). And I’m not talking about screen study - although down time before sleep is a very good idea - rather I’m thinking of the social media and gaming under the sheets….
A final word from the Sleep Foundation:
“Sleep deprivation during adolescence can cause problems with mood, emotion, and academic performance. Teens who don’t sleep well are more likely to have problems with their peers, and chronic sleep loss can lead to a weakened immune system, depression, and suicidal thoughts….Sleep loss and screens are both risk factors for obesity…”
“Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing, Beloved from pole to pole!
To Mary Queen the praise be given!
She sent the gentle sleep from Heaven,
That slid into my soul.”
Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
He also could write a little.
Answer: 93%
