Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic School is leading the way in a national campaign that asks parents to wait until at least the end of eighth grade to give their child a smartphone. "One part of our mission statement is to make sure we meet the needs of the whole child," Principal Tim Fletcher said, "and technology is part of that." Fletcher oversees about 650 students and has six kids of his own. "I can tell you there is a big difference between how children are being raised today than they were even five years ago," Fletcher said. Many parents at the school agree. In fact, 381 families have signed the national Wait Until 8th campaign. That's the most of any school in the nation. Carmel parent Lauren Clark took the pledge for her four kids. "When a parent signs the Wait Until 8th pledge, what that means is that they are promising to wait until at least the end of 8th grade to get their child a smartphone," Clark said. The pledge is designed to protect young children from the distractions and dangers that can come from smartphones, according to Clark. MORE: https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/carmel-school-leads-wait-until-8th-campaign-our-lady-of-mount-catholic-school-devices-smartphones-kids-children-pledge/531-8d11339e-8496-40da-bd42-05530eb536fe