Banning phones in school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have to insult a poster to make your point, maybe your position isn’t that strong. Some of these posters who say they are teachers are name calling (“idiot”) and acting very reactive to anyone who does not share their opinion. I’d recommend avoiding insults and practice actually trying to hear the other person’s point of view in an open minded way. I’m able to see how phones are like chocolate cake and can take attention away from important things. I never said this isn’t true. I just feel a ban is a step too far, personally, and that other policies are a better fit for the situation at hand.

How do other public schools manage to ban phones in class? Do you think their kids are suffering?

My MCPS MS bans phones in the classrooms. They must be stored in students' lockers and can be used at lunch, but returned to lockers at the end of lunch. Students are far more attentive and better behaved in class. And since this is a school-wide rule, there is no struggle between differing expectations in different classrooms. If students violate the rule, parents must pick up the student phones from the office after strike 3.

It works; phone bans are possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm teaching a fifth grade class right now and four or five students already have their phones out and I can't do anything about it, really. It does make teaching considerably harder.

Why can't you take the phone away from them until dismissal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have to insult a poster to make your point, maybe your position isn’t that strong. Some of these posters who say they are teachers are name calling (“idiot”) and acting very reactive to anyone who does not share their opinion. I’d recommend avoiding insults and practice actually trying to hear the other person’s point of view in an open minded way. I’m able to see how phones are like chocolate cake and can take attention away from important things. I never said this isn’t true. I just feel a ban is a step too far, personally, and that other policies are a better fit for the situation at hand.

How do other public schools manage to ban phones in class? Do you think their kids are suffering?

I have no idea what other school districts do. I think our school system has about 100 other systems in place that cause more “suffering” for students relative to this issue. The first one that comes to mind is shuffling students with known serious disciplinary issues from school to school rather than providing them appropriate non gen-ed placements/supervision/supports.

you said that a ban on phones is "a step too far" as if they would suffer if there was such a ban. This thread is about cell phone ban. Stick to the topic.

Several schools are banning phones, and the students are fine, some would say, more than fine.

Norway did it, and they saw an overall improvement in bullying and grades.

https://www.nbc24.com/news/nation-world/norways-school-cell-phone-ban-boosts-student-grades-health-model-us-schools-parents-children-development-reading-abilities-mental-health-human-contact-policy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm teaching a fifth grade class right now and four or five students already have their phones out and I can't do anything about it, really. It does make teaching considerably harder.

Why can't you take the phone away from them until dismissal?

according to a PP, that would be taking away personal property, and then there's some kids who get violent for taking their phone away, yes, even ES kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have to insult a poster to make your point, maybe your position isn’t that strong. Some of these posters who say they are teachers are name calling (“idiot”) and acting very reactive to anyone who does not share their opinion. I’d recommend avoiding insults and practice actually trying to hear the other person’s point of view in an open minded way. I’m able to see how phones are like chocolate cake and can take attention away from important things. I never said this isn’t true. I just feel a ban is a step too far, personally, and that other policies are a better fit for the situation at hand.

How do other public schools manage to ban phones in class? Do you think their kids are suffering?

I have no idea what other school districts do. I think our school system has about 100 other systems in place that cause more “suffering” for students relative to this issue. The first one that comes to mind is shuffling students with known serious disciplinary issues from school to school rather than providing them appropriate non gen-ed placements/supervision/supports.

you said that a ban on phones is "a step too far" as if they would suffer if there was such a ban. This thread is about cell phone ban. Stick to the topic.

Several schools are banning phones, and the students are fine, some would say, more than fine.

Norway did it, and they saw an overall improvement in bullying and grades.

https://www.nbc24.com/news/nation-world/norways-school-cell-phone-ban-boosts-student-grades-health-model-us-schools-parents-children-development-reading-abilities-mental-health-human-contact-policy

You asked me two direct questions that I responded to, only for you to accuse me of going off topic. Cute. You also assumed, incorrectly, that my saying a ban was a step too far indicated I thought it would cause suffering. I didn’t say that and I don’t think that. I think it’s a very extreme position/response when more moderate ones could be equally successful and more tolerable to more people. Also, that’s great for Norway. I don’t think their levels of crime, violence, lockdowns, etc. vis a vis the schools are comparable to ours at all and I do think many parents want their teens to have a way to contact 911 or a parent in situations such as this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have to insult a poster to make your point, maybe your position isn’t that strong. Some of these posters who say they are teachers are name calling (“idiot”) and acting very reactive to anyone who does not share their opinion. I’d recommend avoiding insults and practice actually trying to hear the other person’s point of view in an open minded way. I’m able to see how phones are like chocolate cake and can take attention away from important things. I never said this isn’t true. I just feel a ban is a step too far, personally, and that other policies are a better fit for the situation at hand.

How do other public schools manage to ban phones in class? Do you think their kids are suffering?

I have no idea what other school districts do. I think our school system has about 100 other systems in place that cause more “suffering” for students relative to this issue. The first one that comes to mind is shuffling students with known serious disciplinary issues from school to school rather than providing them appropriate non gen-ed placements/supervision/supports.

you said that a ban on phones is "a step too far" as if they would suffer if there was such a ban. This thread is about cell phone ban. Stick to the topic.

Several schools are banning phones, and the students are fine, some would say, more than fine.

Norway did it, and they saw an overall improvement in bullying and grades.

https://www.nbc24.com/news/nation-world/norways-school-cell-phone-ban-boosts-student-grades-health-model-us-schools-parents-children-development-reading-abilities-mental-health-human-contact-policy

You asked me two direct questions that I responded to, only for you to accuse me of going off topic. Cute. You also assumed, incorrectly, that my saying a ban was a step too far indicated I thought it would cause suffering. I didn’t say that and I don’t think that. I think it’s a very extreme position/response when more moderate ones could be equally successful and more tolerable to more people. Also, that’s great for Norway. I don’t think their levels of crime, violence, lockdowns, etc. vis a vis the schools are comparable to ours at all and I do think many parents want their teens to have a way to contact 911 or a parent in situations such as this.

Banning phones also reduced bullying. Also, some American schools have done the same, with similar results.

Moving troubled kids to an alternative school doesn't really help with the bullying. Social media is hurting our kids. We don't need them to have access to it at school.

Some schools use yondr pouches (google it). They can get access to their phones in an emergency.

Banning phones will help students more than hurt them, and that is more important than allaying your fears over not being able to contact them.

The kids will be alright.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/jan/17/cellphone-smartphone-bans-schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm teaching a fifth grade class right now and four or five students already have their phones out and I can't do anything about it, really. It does make teaching considerably harder.

Why can't you take the phone away from them until dismissal?

You can set up parental controls so the phone is limited to emergency calls during school hours. Not sure why you want MCPS to parent your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm teaching a fifth grade class right now and four or five students already have their phones out and I can't do anything about it, really. It does make teaching considerably harder.

Why can't you take the phone away from them until dismissal?

You can set up parental controls so the phone is limited to emergency calls during school hours. Not sure why you want MCPS to parent your kids.

Please for the love of God stop!

Stop!

We all know phones are terribly addictive. Listen to the teachers who say they make teaching/learning so hard.

Ban the phones in high school. Everything would improve. Kids would talk to each other again. Now there are teens with hoods up and masks on and earbuds in who are so incredibly disengaged.

We know the right thing to do. Parents, please encourage your schools to do it!

[Anonymous]

I’m at a school that requires kids to keep the phone in their book bag in their locker but it’s hard to enforce. Kids use every excuse to get out of class so they can use the hallway, locker or bathroom time to check their phone. The ones that dare bring it to class put up such a fight if they get caught. There aren’t enough security assistants to deal with it.

The phone ban can’t be enforced at the bus stop, after school waiting g for the bus or before the first bell rings in the morning. Hold kids accountable for what they should be doing instead of banning things. Maybe if we had accountability for completing work on time and giving real grades kids would be less lazy with their phones and do actual school work at school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m at a school that requires kids to keep the phone in their book bag in their locker but it’s hard to enforce. Kids use every excuse to get out of class so they can use the hallway, locker or bathroom time to check their phone. The ones that dare bring it to class put up such a fight if they get caught. There aren’t enough security assistants to deal with it.

The phone ban can’t be enforced at the bus stop, after school waiting g for the bus or before the first bell rings in the morning. Hold kids accountable for what they should be doing instead of banning things. Maybe if we had accountability for completing work on time and giving real grades kids would be less lazy with their phones and do actual school work at school

"I'm at a school"? You are not an educator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm teaching a fifth grade class right now and four or five students already have their phones out and I can't do anything about it, really. It does make teaching considerably harder.

Why can't you take the phone away from them until dismissal?

You can set up parental controls so the phone is limited to emergency calls during school hours. Not sure why you want MCPS to parent your kids.

Not all parents are willing and kids can get around the controls.

Teachers need to tell the kids to put away the phones or contact the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m at a school that requires kids to keep the phone in their book bag in their locker but it’s hard to enforce. Kids use every excuse to get out of class so they can use the hallway, locker or bathroom time to check their phone. The ones that dare bring it to class put up such a fight if they get caught. There aren’t enough security assistants to deal with it.

The phone ban can’t be enforced at the bus stop, after school waiting g for the bus or before the first bell rings in the morning. Hold kids accountable for what they should be doing instead of banning things. Maybe if we had accountability for completing work on time and giving real grades kids would be less lazy with their phones and do actual school work at school

"I'm at a school"? You are not an educator.

Are you okay? Your post makes zero sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm teaching a fifth grade class right now and four or five students already have their phones out and I can't do anything about it, really. It does make teaching considerably harder.

Why can't you take the phone away from them until dismissal?

You can set up parental controls so the phone is limited to emergency calls during school hours. Not sure why you want MCPS to parent your kids.

Not all parents are willing and kids can get around the controls.

Teachers need to tell the kids to put away the phones or contact the parents.

Teachers do both of these things. It is futile. The parents absolutely do not care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm teaching a fifth grade class right now and four or five students already have their phones out and I can't do anything about it, really. It does make teaching considerably harder.

Why can't you take the phone away from them until dismissal?

You can set up parental controls so the phone is limited to emergency calls during school hours. Not sure why you want MCPS to parent your kids.

Please for the love of God stop!

Stop!

We all know phones are terribly addictive. Listen to the teachers who say they make teaching/learning so hard.

Ban the phones in high school. Everything would improve. Kids would talk to each other again. Now there are teens with hoods up and masks on and earbuds in who are so incredibly disengaged.

We know the right thing to do. Parents, please encourage your schools to do it!

Kids need phones for safety. It’s not like there are pay phones.

[Anonymous]

We didn’t need cellphones growing up . . . we had access to the office system or in some cases there was one in the classrooms. (Rare.) I’m hard pressed to imagine a situation that would justify having them around, when social incidents are on the rise, and test scores are being impacted.