To the Editor:

Everyone says that middle-schoolers are so talkative. But what would happen if we had more time to talk throughout the day ? We would be able to learn better and actually have a face-to-face conversation. Middle-schoolers need to socialize more often in the day.

Socializing can help us learn and increase our social skills. According to a study by Wonderopolis.org, communication can have a positive effect on social and writing skills.

Personally, when I talk out things with my friends and teachers, it helps me understand what is being taught better. Also, talking to people helps me with writing because it is a good way for me to get ideas to make my writing stronger.

Electronics are interfering with face-to-face conversations. Kids ages 8 through 18 spend more than seven-and-a-half hours a day on electronics. That is time we could be spending interacting with each other.

Personally, I am always on my electronic devices. Sometimes when I’m talking to someone, I’m also checking my phone. So I’m not really paying attention to the conversation I’m having. A middle-schooler in Wisconsin said that he had more connections with his family when he wasn’t on his electronics. This is true for so many people.

Also, not everyone can hang out with their friends after school. Middle-schoolers have lots of other things going on after school and can’t always go their friends’ houses. I know when I try to hang out with my friends when we aren’t in school, they can’t because they have family occasions or sports and things like that.

Middle-schoolers don’t have cars either so we need a ride to get most places. Sometimes our parents can’t bring us to our best friend’s house. So school may be the only time we have to talk to our friends.

Now, you could argue that we have access periods and other times to socialize. But, some teachers don’t want us to talk during access because we are supposed to be getting work done. Sometimes in access we are yelled at for being too loud and teachers assume that means we aren’t doing any work, but that isn’t always the case.

We need to socialize more often as middle schoolers. Who knows, we could be asking about what is due tomorrow in social studies class.

Kianna Tatum

Farnsworth Middle School