Howard county/cell phone ban

[Anonymous]

They just banned cell phones for student use in Howard County. How can we put the pressure on mcps to follow suit.

[Anonymous]

Did Hoco share anything about how it would be enforced?

I do agree, why doesn’t MCPS have a county wide policy??? Saying cell phones aren’t ok won’t do anything unless there is a plan to enforce. That’s the hard part.

[Anonymous]

A district policy is meaningless if parents undermine it.

[Anonymous]

MCPS has a policy already. Enforcement is the problem.

[Anonymous]

When a personal device is used in violation of the new policy, school staff will confiscate the device and return it at the end of the school day. Parents will be asked to go to school to retrieve cellphones for repeated violations

[Anonymous]

Enforcement has always been the problem, which is why a ban is necessary. However, if they continue to not enforce, and I don't mean the teachers- the admin, it will never work. I fully support the ban.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has a policy already. Enforcement is the problem.

How is enforcement the problem? The phones don't work at school anyways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When a personal device is used in violation of the new policy, school staff will confiscate the device and return it at the end of the school day. Parents will be asked to go to school to retrieve cellphones for repeated violations

Sounds great until

A. a kid loses their minds over the phone and viciously attacks staff (happens)

B. a crazy parent files a police report the teacher/school “stole” the $1000 phone (also happens)

Cellphones are a here to stay problem unless there are completely radical changes in parenting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has a policy already. Enforcement is the problem.

How is enforcement the problem? The phones don't work at school anyways.

Huh?
The phones absolutely work in MCPS schools. I have HS kids that spend all day watching movies and sports and refusing to put the phone away and get to work despite multiple requests each day.

I think a ban would be most helpful for the kids who do try in school and who have parents that care about them being focused in school. If their friends aren't on their phones all day also, then no one is missing texts, Social media posts, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did Hoco share anything about how it would be enforced?

I do agree, why doesn’t MCPS have a county wide policy??? Saying cell phones aren’t ok won’t do anything unless there is a plan to enforce. That’s the hard part.

We do! We're not Luddites and like cell phones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has a policy already. Enforcement is the problem.

How is enforcement the problem? The phones don't work at school anyways.

Huh?
The phones absolutely work in MCPS schools. I have HS kids that spend all day watching movies and sports and refusing to put the phone away and get to work despite multiple requests each day.

I think a ban would be most helpful for the kids who do try in school and who have parents that care about them being focused in school. If their friends aren't on their phones all day also, then no one is missing texts, Social media posts, etc.

Not really necessary. If you are against phones, take it away from your child. It's called parenting.

[Anonymous]

Mcps educator here- hard for even the good students to not get caught up on their friends phones or distracted by them.

[Anonymous]

The phone policy is not enforced at our high school. Admin is spineless and doesn’t want the kids flipping out. Very little parent support on this issue. Many students(and Parents) are completely addicted.

I have seen students have toddler style melt downs, walk out of class with security following behind and yell to be picked up by parents instead of put their phone away.

[Anonymous]

We need a state ban. Admin is too weak to enforce any policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need a state ban. Admin is too weak to enforce any policy.

And how will schools enforce if and when there's a state ban? State people are going to walk around and confiscate phones??