APS Cell phones in High School classes

[Anonymous]

We are an 8th grade st Hamm, and DD says the kids are pretty good about putting away their phone, I think the principal runs a tight ship.

But reading the MCPS thread that kids are always on the phone and teachers would get in trouble for taking them away? What? Is that a thing for APS too?

[Anonymous]

Not sure what the policy was, but DD went to WL. Some teachers had organizers that the kids put their phones in as soon as they entered the class. Others warned that if they saw the phone, they would lose points on their grade. Other classes were more lenient, but it was known if you spend time on your phone you were going to do badly in the class. Overall, I would not say it was an issue in our experience.

[Anonymous]

Some teachers are more strict than others. But there are definitely times when they are on their phones in the middle of the day. And not for school related purposes.

[Anonymous]

The official policy is that phones must be put away during class. But kids are allowed to use their phones between classes, during lunch, etc. And I’m sure some kids get them out in class, too. I wish they would have an “away for the day” policy. I don’t envy the teachers having to compete with the stupid phones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The official policy is that phones must be put away during class. But kids are allowed to use their phones between classes, during lunch, etc. And I’m sure some kids get them out in class, too. I wish they would have an “away for the day” policy. I don’t envy the teachers having to compete with the stupid phones.

+1

I believe the "phones away in class" is actually a new official APS-wide policy (wwaaaaayyyy too long coming!) This gives teachers previously lacking administrative support and back-up in enforcing their preferences and expectations that students keep their phones off and away in their class. I am hopeful(?) that it will become more widely followed and enforced over the next few years, now that it is official policy and teachers have that to back them up. Of course, this could be hampered if APS decides to use the Minga digital hall pass system on student phones rather than their laptops...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are an 8th grade st Hamm, and DD says the kids are pretty good about putting away their phone, I think the principal runs a tight ship.

But reading the MCPS thread that kids are always on the phone and teachers would get in trouble for taking them away? What? Is that a thing for APS too?

There is a new policy for cell phone use in APS this year. I have no idea what MoCo's policy is, but you should educate yourself on APS policy.

[Anonymous]

This article is pretty interesting. I with APS had a more strict policy. My kids are still in middle school and keep their phones in their lockers but for high school I may have to lock their phones during the day.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/06/ban-smartphones-phone-free-schools-social-media/674304/

Get Phones Out of Schools Now
They impede learning, stunt relationships, and lessen belonging. They should be banned.

By Jonathan Haidt

[Anonymous]

Remember when Cristina Diaz Torres in the School Board said it's OK for them to do multiple things at once because we are ll multi tasking anyways and that's the reality of the world? She wouldn't support a strict phon policy and said children had to learn to self regulate. Never mind that apps are designed to be addictive. Face palm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember when Cristina Diaz Torres in the School Board said it's OK for them to do multiple things at once because we are ll multi tasking anyways and that's the reality of the world? She wouldn't support a strict phon policy and said children had to learn to self regulate. Never mind that apps are designed to be addictive. Face palm

Oh I remember. And this was in reference to seeing kids watching the world cup on their iPads during a lesson on Japanese internment. And she laughed and said that's just "how work gets done these days."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remember when Cristina Diaz Torres in the School Board said it's OK for them to do multiple things at once because we are ll multi tasking anyways and that's the reality of the world? She wouldn't support a strict phon policy and said children had to learn to self regulate. Never mind that apps are designed to be addictive. Face palm

Oh I remember. And this was in reference to seeing kids watching the world cup on their iPads during a lesson on Japanese internment. And she laughed and said that's just "how work gets done these days."

Her and priddy are both worthless. She’s worse though because she supports bad policies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember when Cristina Diaz Torres in the School Board said it's OK for them to do multiple things at once because we are ll multi tasking anyways and that's the reality of the world? She wouldn't support a strict phon policy and said children had to learn to self regulate. Never mind that apps are designed to be addictive. Face palm

She also said one of the benefits of asynchronous and remote learning is that teens were able to work during the week days. My jaw dropped when I she said that. Those were the days when everyone was tuning into school board meetings to learn the plan for opening the schools. Apparently it was okay for kids to show up to work in-person but not school. She is a complete idiot. It’d be laughable if it wasn’t so depressing.

[Anonymous]

My kid is in 10th grade at WL. He says the kids aren’t on their phones much in class. Some of the classes try to require the kids to put them in phone cubby bags at the front of the room, but that’s with mixed success. He says the teachers will take the phones when they see a kid on them.

But look at your own behaviors. I work in a SCIF so I’m used to leaving my phone in the car. I went to a conference last week, and most people in the room were on their phone the entire time. I was so unused to that in a professional setting. Kids do what they see.