On average, American high schoolers—ages 12 to 17—spend five or more hours on their smartphones daily, according to the CDC, a level of screen use that can significantly impact well-being and attention span. On Monday, March 2, 2026, The Webb School will welcome bestselling author, podcaster, and storyteller Carlos Whittaker to its Chapel stage for the Spring 2026 Follin Speaker Series, continuing an endowed program that brings world-class speakers, authors, performers, coaches and educators to Bell Buckle, Tenn. Whittaker, the USA Today bestselling author of “Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human,” promises to deliver a timely and deeply relevant message to adolescents, Webb families, and the broader community.
A cornerstone of academic and community life at The Webb School, the Follin Speaker Series is free and open to the public, reflecting Webb’s commitment to serving as a cultural and intellectual resource for the Middle Tennessee region. In his book, Whittaker chronicles his decision to step away from screens for nearly two months, spending time at a monastery, on an Amish farm, and at home, technology-free, to study how constant connectivity affects the brain, relationships, and spiritual life. Through humor, vulnerability, and research-backed insight, Whittaker explores how to retrain attention, prioritize in-person relationships, and reclaim a sense of presence in a tech-saturated world. His message resonates with anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by notifications, distracted by devices, or disconnected despite maintaining a constant online presence.
Whittaker’s presentation coincides with a five-day “Screen Vacation Week” to be held at The Webb School from March 2 to March 6, 2026, encouraging families to intentionally reduce screen time while participating in creative, social and outdoor activities. Rather than demanding complete elimination of devices, the week will invite students to reset their habits and reflect on balance – an approach mirroring the practical, sustainable changes that Whittaker so advocates for.
As a lead-up to Whittaker’s visit and “Screen Vacation Week,” Webb faculty also read and discussed Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation” last August. Since then, they’ve implemented several thoughtful screen-free strategies campus-wide to improve students’ health and well-being, and their ability to establish face-to-face connections.
In the Middle School, students now experience year-round device-free lunches, creating daily opportunities to talk, laugh, and build friendships without phones at the table.
“Students quickly adapted to the new guideline this year, and it has been a joy to see them engage in lively conversations during lunchtime,” said Mallory Garcia, Middle School Head. “While the noise level may have increased in the Dining Hall, connections and friendships have also increased – a trade-off that we gladly accept!”
Whittaker will present two sessions on Monday, March 2: 9:30 – 10 AM and 11:35 AM – 12:05 PM in the Administration Building’s Follin Chapel (319 Webb Road East, Bell Buckle, TN 37020). Any member of the public who wishes to attend should arrive approximately 15 minutes early to check in.
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February 27, 2026 – The Tullahoma News - "Author Speaks on Becoming Screen-free"