In a slight departure from my typical posts about education and social studies, I wanted to present this pledge to you! I will soon get back to blogging about the activities in my classroom but I felt the need to share this.

Preamble 

As more and more people (including myself) have become glued to their cell phones at the expense of personal communication, I have created this pledge in an attempt to reverse the trend. However, rather than focusing on limiting screen time for others, I plan on attacking this from another direction…

The Pledge

I pledge to be more interesting so others do not feel the need to be on their cell phone when they are with me! This does not simply mean to wear loud and distracting ties that squirt water – but to fully engage with those around me and discuss topics both light as well as deep. While I cannot will a cell phone out of another’s hand (I am not a Jedi yet), by providing lively conversation, ideally, my intended conversation partner will follow suit.

(When I do have a fleeting thought or idea while talking to another, I will write it down to develop at a later time or discuss it then and there with my discussion partner. )

My presence will be my present to others this year. This will not be the only present that I give though, as that would seem a bit narcissistic. It will simply be a part of the gift.

I will still participate on social media on a regular basis. But I will do my best to not let it dominate my time at the expense of those around me.

Want to take the pledge with me?