GDS Phone Ban

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the policy in high school at sidwell, Maret, NCS, and STA?

I'm a parent at one of these schools and I really hope they follow suit. I don't think phones should be allowed at all (not in or between classes) during the school day.

[Anonymous]

What does BIM do?

[Anonymous]

I think the rising 9th grade GDS class year is the one that had great success with a critical mass of students and families subscribing (and enforcing) the Wait Until 8th grade ends to get a smartphone.

High school is different since schools think all the online readings, worksheets, chrome books/ iPads, and google docs and apps are the best way to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Banned them how?

Like before when there supposed to be in bags or lockers and everyone races over to them between classes and all of lunch or keeps sneaking them out?

Or like locked up or not in the building from first period through last period?

What about open lunch?

Prior to this, there wasn't even a pretense of a requirement to keep them in their bags.

I don't think anyone knows how it will be enforced, but it's an improvement over no policy.

How is anything enforced at GDS?

The community demands it, it will happen and be enforced. Even by peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does BIM do?

You mean the thought leader in DMV private school education?

[Anonymous]

Holton also just adopted this policy.

"Upper School students across all grade levels will not be allowed to use personal electronic devices — including cell phones, smartphones, and smartwatches — during school hours, including academic and extracurricular activities. Devices must be powered off and stored in designated lockboxes. In the event of necessary communication, students may utilize school phones in the Divisional Office. We kindly request families to direct any correspondence about their child by phone or email to the Upper School office."

So happy about this!

[Anonymous]

Love this!!! Great work to all the schools doing the hard thing / it’s the right thing. I am so hopeful that my kids’ school implements this soon!!!

[Anonymous]

STA announced the new policy a while back. May? June? Just hope they enforce it strictly because they haven’t for Lower School where the policy has been in place for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holton also just adopted this policy.

"Upper School students across all grade levels will not be allowed to use personal electronic devices — including cell phones, smartphones, and smartwatches — during school hours, including academic and extracurricular activities. Devices must be powered off and stored in designated lockboxes. In the event of necessary communication, students may utilize school phones in the Divisional Office. We kindly request families to direct any correspondence about their child by phone or email to the Upper School office."

So happy about this!

Excellent. Lockboxes.

New hires will look for policies like this so they know it’s an engaged classroom and community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Banned them how?

Like before when there supposed to be in bags or lockers and everyone races over to them between classes and all of lunch or keeps sneaking them out?

Or like locked up or not in the building from first period through last period?

What about open lunch?

Prior to this, there wasn't even a pretense of a requirement to keep them in their bags.

I don't think anyone knows how it will be enforced, but it's an improvement over no policy.

How is anything enforced at GDS?

The community demands it, it will happen and be enforced. Even by peers.

What are the consequences for violating the policy? A stern look?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the policy in high school at sidwell, Maret, NCS, and STA?

I'm a parent at one of these schools and I really hope they follow suit. I don't think phones should be allowed at all (not in or between classes) during the school day.

I am very surprised these schools are just now adopting this policy and even more surprised some haven’t done so.

Why so late to the game?

[Anonymous]

Any way to bypass the paywall?

[Anonymous]

I don’t like phone bans for hs. I have a recent grad and there were times we needed to be in touch and going through the school office would have been a pain. If you are just about ready to be in real world then the real world includes phones. I totally get bands for younger years but not hs. I also think it will drive kids to overuse phones after school. I have come to believe being too strict on anything has unintended consequence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like phone bans for hs. I have a recent grad and there were times we needed to be in touch and going through the school office would have been a pain. If you are just about ready to be in real world then the real world includes phones. I totally get bands for younger years but not hs. I also think it will drive kids to overuse phones after school. I have come to believe being too strict on anything has unintended consequence.

At the high school I know with a ban, the kids are on other devices a fair amount, so parents can be in contact via email.

Many people in "the real world" have jobs that require them to put their phones away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any way to bypass the paywall?

iPhone Apple News search for the Atlantic article?