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TikTok block: Australia bans social media for under-16-year-olds
Australia is trying to kick under-16-year-olds off social media.

Joanne Jacobs
5 days ago2 min read
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It's not smart to give smartphones to young children
The younger children are when they get their first smartphone the higher the risk of depression, obesity and poor sleep habits.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 62 min read
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Dubious disabilities: 'It's rich kids getting extra time on tests'
At elite universities, growing numbers of students receive special treatment for ADHD, anxiety, depression and other conditions now considered disabilities.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 33 min read
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'No child has ever been inspired by despair'
The world offers "beauty, progress and opportunity," not just "hardship and injustice."

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 262 min read
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How to raise low-tech teens
To protect teens from digital addiction, parents must take charge.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 162 min read
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Intensive parenting is driving parents (and their kids) crazy
Parents need to chill. Let kids try things on their own, make mistakes and learn.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 93 min read
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While teachers worry about discipline, ed researchers focus on 'equity'
As teachers try to get students to "sit down, focus and learn," researchers priorities are equity, justice and identity.

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 302 min read
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Teaching kids the habits of anxious, depressed people isn't working well
Schools, colleges (and parents) are teaching kids the habits of anxious, depressed people.

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 52 min read
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Social-emotional learning is now 'character ed' or 'life skills' or ...
School leaders are rebranding "social-emotional learning" as "character education" or other less controversial names, but teaching the same lessons.

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 42 min read
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'Kids aren't phone zombies now'
"Kids aren't phone zombies now," says teacher whose school banned smartphones.

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 142 min read
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The first day of school: Don't worry, be happy
Starting school is exciting -- unless parents tell their kids to be stressed.

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 12 min read
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AI will write your kid's suicide note
ChatGPT can be tricked into writing a suicide note, designing a starvation diet for an anorexic or offering advice on how to hide intoxication at school.

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 232 min read
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Illinois doubles down on schools as mental-health clinics
Illinois already spends a fortune on mental health services for students, and plans to spend more. It won't help.

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 132 min read
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Words will never hurt you -- unless you're incredibly fragile
It's a free country and you're entitled to your opinion. Bring back resilience, free thought and intellectual humility.

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 102 min read
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Chicago schools get $500K for services: Success won't be judged by student outcomes, says mayor
The success of a "community school" is whether it hires staff and offers programs -- not whether extra services lead to student success -- says Chicago's mayor.

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 51 min read
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Crazy time: Illinois schools will test students' mental health
Illinois will screen all students for mental health issues, despite evidence that universal programs school-based programs don't improve mental health or academic outcomes.

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 42 min read
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When a kid's BFF is a bot
Kids need to interact with human friends -- not endless supportive bots.

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 202 min read
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What does it mean to be a good man? Boys need fathers -- or male mentors
Boys growing up without a father -- and there are more of them -- have few male role models.

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 92 min read
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Lazy days of summer
Stressed, overparented teens can benefit from a lazy, unenriched summer.

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 52 min read
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Why did autism rates soar? Look at diagnoses, not vaccines
Autism rates skyrocketed when the diagnostic criteria changed to include mild "Aspie" symptoms.

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 242 min read
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