Book Study

We opened the opportunity to:

• Members of our Employee Advisory Council (EAC)
• Past PSD Ambassadors
• Parents and family members involved in ATPs (Action Teams for Partnership)
• Parents and volunteers from PTOs (Parent Teacher Organizations)

The response was overwhelming, with many people eager to join the discussion.

Our final group includes 35 participants total:

• 18 staff members
• 17 participants who are community members, parents, and one student

This diverse group reflects our shared commitment to putting students first and learning together.

The book study is designed to be interactive, welcoming, and reflective:

• Participants meet in roundtable groups of 6–7 people.
• Each group is led by a facilitator who helps guide the conversation.
• Discussion questions are shared in advance, so participants can:
  • Read and reflect
  • Take notes in their notebooks
  • Prepare thoughtful responses

During each session, groups engage in:

• Open, collaborative conversations
• Discussions that welcome multiple perspectives and lived experiences
• Shared learning between staff, parents, students, and community members

This roundtable format creates a balanced, welcoming environment where everyone has a voice and can learn from one another.

Purpose:
To explore how modern childhood has shifted—and how we can work together to reverse two key trends:

• Overprotecting children in the real world
• Underprotecting them online

Focus:
Building a foundation for healthier childhoods in the digital age by understanding the pressures children face today and exploring realistic changes we can make as a community.

In The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt identifies four achievable community-wide reforms that can make a meaningful difference for kids:

• No smartphones before high school
• No social media before age 16
• Phone-free schools
• More unsupervised play and childhood independence

These changes are ambitious—but they are possible if families, schools, and communities take action together.

Throughout the book study, participants will:

• Explore actionable ways to apply the four reforms across our community
• Continue meaningful discussions within the group and beyond
• Identify real-world strategies that can be used in Pasco schools, homes, and neighborhoods
• Share insights with school staff, families, and community partners
• Encourage new book studies within:
  • Parent groups
  • Schools
  • Community organizations and circles

We also hope to explore future opportunities to involve more families and students in this important dialogue.

This book study is just the beginning. As we listen, learn, and reflect together, Pasco School District is committed to:

• Supporting healthy, balanced childhoods in a digital world
• Strengthening partnerships between schools and families
• Creating environments where every student feels seen, safe, and supported

We look forward to sharing what we learn and inviting more voices into the conversation in the months ahead.

Below are the handouts and resources we've created for our Book Study. 

• Book Club Summary - English
• Book Club Summary - Spanish
• Session One - English 
• Session One - Spanish
• Session Two - English
• Session Two - Spanish
• Session Three - English
• Session Three - Spanish
• Session Four - English
• Session Four - Spanish