St. Matt’s students put calls on hold

February 13, 2015
Tom Burke

I’m a guy who grew up when there were still party lines and the only phone we had was simply “the phone” as opposed to my cell and the many other pieces of communications equipment we have today.

That said, I now consider myself to be fully enlisted in the modern age and break into a sweat when I think I might be without my trusty flip-phone: OK I’m not that enlisted.

In November, 67 seventh and eighth graders at St. Matthew School volunteered to go without electronic devices of their choice for one and two weeks respectively.

The “Technology-Free Challenge” gave students the chance “to experience the world ‘looking up’ with eyes wide open and not cast down at cellphone screen or computer game,” said Nancy Arnett, St. Matt’s principal, via email.

No devices, Nancy said, let students be in the moment and enjoy friendships on a deeper level without interference; learn how to face head-on and survive the fear of missing out; do something productive, enriching, they might not have had time to do before.

“An integral part of St. Matthew’s character program has to do with teaching children the value of connecting and relating to one another, assisting in the strengthening of one’s relationship with Jesus, with one’s family and with one’s friends and mentors,” Nancy told me. 

I spoke on email with seventh grader, Maggie Bright, and eighth graders Nick Escobar and Kristina Stevens about the challenge. Maggie gave up her phone and Kindle; Nick his phone and computer; Kristina her phone, TV, iPad, and computer “except for homework.” 

The challenge has led them all to use their devices less.

“I no longer use my phone when I am in a public place especially when I am with my parents,” Maggie said.

“These days I like climbing trees in my yard and going on long bike rides,” Nick said about his new tech-free time.

“My goal during the challenge was to spend more time outside walking dogs and playing with my younger siblings. I ended up walking my dogs every day,” Kristina said. “I loved those walks.”

Challenge impact on the three? “Months after the challenge, my phone still does not come out when I am with my friends,” Maggie said. “My phone is not my number one prize possession anymore; my family is,” Nick said. “Now, since several of my friends did the challenge, we are used to being together without our phones. We talk and laugh so much more now,” Kristina said.

“My phone is now just an object; it is not my safety crutch or my life, it is just a device,” Maggie said.

Nick proposed a mini-challenge at a family dinner. “We talked to each other a lot at that dinner. It was a great night.”

“Not being able to waste time on my technology, I found myself downstairs a lot more,” Kristina said. “It was nice being with my family more.” 

“What is strikingly similar among most of the students is a shift toward having more quality interactions with their family members,” Nancy said about results of the challenge. “Yes, that’s right: These middle school students are encouraging their family members to put aside their mobile devices and game consoles so that they can participate in more family oriented activities.”

COMING UP: The Office of Marriage and Family Life welcomes couples to a retreat March 21: Marriage on Fire; Our Lady of Angels Church, 1721 Hillside Drive, Burlingame, 3-9 p.m., dinner included, $65/couple, register at www.marriageonfire.info; HopfnerE@SFArchdiocese.org.

It is a young adult Lenten day of prayer Feb. 21 the Dominican Sisters of MSJ Motherhouse, 43326 Mission Blvd. Fremont; 9:30-4 p.m. Registration fee of $20 includes lunch, refreshments and materials. A Young Adult Retreat Team facilitates. Register on-line at www.msjdominicans.org or www.bit.ly/YAretreat.org; (510) 933-6335.

Email items and electronic pictures – jpegs at no less than 300 dpi to burket@sfarchdiocese.org or mail to Street, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco 94109. Include a follow-up phone number. Street is toll-free. My phone number is (415) 614-5634.