Howard county/cell phone ban

[Anonymous]

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

Don’t know how a state ban would really effect this either calling it a good or bad thing.

[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.

They don’t work in some schools. The signal is bad ad a few

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

I work at a school and you forgot this one

C. The phone is damaged/ dropped when the school staff tries to confiscate the phone and the student resists. The child’s parents require the school/ teacher/ para to pay for the damaged phone.

[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.

i have kids at ES and MS in one of the W clusters. the phones don't work at either school. there was a discussion here recently about the danger that poses in case of emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

i have kids at ES and MS in one of the W clusters. the phones don't work at either school. there was a discussion here recently about the danger that poses in case of emergency.

Yes, because it’s better if your DC calls you in case of an emergency rather than pays full attention and follows the directions of the school staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

i have kids at ES and MS in one of the W clusters. the phones don't work at either school. there was a discussion here recently about the danger that poses in case of emergency.

Yes, because it’s better if your DC calls you in case of an emergency rather than pays full attention and follows the directions of the school staff.

I am not arguing about the policy - just telling you that phones, in fact, do not work at all at some schools (the only schools I happen to know). I am surprised people are denying this.

[Anonymous]

We have no cellular service in a number of schools but the phones can and do connect to the MCPS Guest network easily enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have no cellular service in a number of schools but the phones can and do connect to the MCPS Guest network easily enough.

They should block the phones from the wifi. Ultimately, it's the parents responsibility. Teachers/admin need to address it with the parents of kids who abuse it. We got an email once from a teacher, and the only thing we can figure out is they were using the wifi. We took the phone immediately and replaced it with a watch so they can contact us. The problem is the kids just use the chromebooks vs. phones so until they heavily restrict the chromebooks, its pointless. Parent your own kids and stop worrying about what others do.

[Anonymous]

Lunchtime is sad...Kids scrolling on their phones instead of socializing. It goes beyond class time. Schools with strict bans report very positive results

[Anonymous]

What is MCPS considering if anything for a ban?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lunchtime is sad...Kids scrolling on their phones instead of socializing. It goes beyond class time. Schools with strict bans report very positive results

Its nice for the kids who don't have friends/not included to have something to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lunchtime is sad...Kids scrolling on their phones instead of socializing. It goes beyond class time. Schools with strict bans report very positive results

Its nice for the kids who don't have friends/not included to have something to do.

What about books?????

[Anonymous]

I personally think its wrong and will make life more difficult for parents students and admin. i have a child with adhd and she has a IEP so she can listen to music in class and in the hallways but we've already got problems with admin telling her to take out her airpods. I got a call about this but spineless spine said it was "just the policy"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lunchtime is sad...Kids scrolling on their phones instead of socializing. It goes beyond class time. Schools with strict bans report very positive results

some students do nothing but talk during class and just want a chance to wind down. I do the same thing at work some days you just don't want to interact with their peers and that's fine. I personally think as long as there not on it in class then its not a big issue

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

I work at a school and you forgot this one

C. The phone is damaged/ dropped when the school staff tries to confiscate the phone and the student resists. The child’s parents require the school/ teacher/ para to pay for the damaged phone.

that honestly makes since its someones property that was damaged at school by school staff and they should be held acountable for said damage