Cell phone ban in schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am truly shocked at the parents on here who are arguing against a cell phone ban in schools. Either you really have never been in a modern, public classroom in a high school and are woefully out of touch, or you believe your child’s access to the device (bc you parent so well, and are so busy after school) overrules any larger, evidence-based social good that would come for the whole school were they to be banned. The data show that phones are awful for developing brains and teachers on here and IRL are telling you that they need them banned… and you are selfishly and/or stupidly arguing against it. It’s really shocking and depressing.

That's great but how I raise my children is none of your business.

Your children go to school with OTHER children! In a school paid for my the public’s taxes. It’s public school and cell phone use by underage kids is a PUBLIC health issue. The data are overwhelming.

We banned smoking in Schools (remember smoking courtyards in high schools?) and we mandated seatbelts. And we raised the drinking age. And cracked down on drunk driving. And god help us we ought to ban all assault weapons, too. These are public health issues just like phones in school.

Saying- MY kid can handle their phone okay is akin to 1970s parents griping about the seatbelt issue and the underage drinking. My kid = my way.

But in the US we have done something about public health issues, usually starting with schools. We look back at the days of the smoking courtyard and are shocked, right? I predict that eventually it’ll be the same with handing kids phones and letting them bring them to school. Or at least I hope it’s that way.

Remember that the tech barons of Silicon Valley don’t let their kids have phones and social media at the same rate/as early as it seems most people around here do. Why? They KNOW it’s too addictive! Like the Phillip Morris executives who stopped smoking long before the govt made them admit how harmful smoking was.

I just keep coming back to it- either you are incredibly selfish or seriously out of touch with a modern HS classroom. Or maybe you’re addicted yourself, and this conversation hits too close to home and you’re lashing out. Look, man, I know I’m addicted! I hate it! I know it’s lousy for my mental health etc, but god bless it I want better for American kids! We have to do right by then! Please listen to us teachers and don’t stand in the way of a cell phone ban in MCPS!

Of course those Sliicone Valley kids have phones and electronics. Be real. The parents just say that as its trendy.

I don't need or want you parenting my kids. If you have a problem with them, let me know. Focus on teaching and don't go days without teaching claiming its to let kids catch up when its really you odn't feel like teaching. And, they are playing games, youtube and browsing on the chromebooks, just like you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ModeratelyMoco wrote:Related to cell phone use in schools, I was surprised when analyzing the first 1250 responses to Dr. Taylor's survey that overwhelmingly the top issue mentioned seems to be cell phone use:

https://moderatelymoco.com/part-two-data-driven-decisions-detailed-analysis-of-mcps-superintendents-survey-responses/

wow, look at the count for anything related to cell phone use. Definitely a high priority for parents to implement a district wide ban on smart phone use in schools.

Just like the MVA people, there is a very loud and vocal minority sliver of people who care a whole lot about this and scream from the hilltops. If most people didn’t want their kids to have phones, most people would not be giving their kids phones…but they do.

You should give a damn about your kid’s education. You can claim your angel child would never take their cellphone out in class (spoiler: they do) but even if they didn’t…. The rest of the students do which affects everyone in the classroom and disrupts learning. What about this don’t you understand?

I know my kid uses it in class. We montitor it. Sometimes to text us something important, sometimes teachers have them do something on it and sometimes goofing off. Focus on your own kid and stop demanding others do what you want as you don't want to parent yours.

DP but you’re clearly doing nothing by “monitoring.” Your kid is the problem. You’re the one not parenting your kids. Stop hiding behind “you don’t want to parent your kid” as an excuse. It’s mostly teachers here venting their frustrations with cellphones disrupting learning-not other parents. Wake up.

Yes. What is so important that it can't wait for between classes? The kid obviously isn't paying attention in class.

Changes in pick up times, bomb threat, gas line issues where school is evacuated, need me to take care of something. It’s too bad your kids cannot come to you for help.

DP.

None of those require a phone that connects to the internet.

Contacting you (parent) can be accomplished with a flip phone and parental controls that prohibit texting friends and games.

You decide what kind of phone your kids have, I'll decide what mine have. So your HS kids have a flip phone?

Mine had smart phones that were locked down during school hours. Three kids through MCPS, the last two graduated this year. All on honor roll and student leaders. Never any issues with them with the phones because we controlled the tech.

You?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t care if kids are on their cell phones during class as long as they keep it quiet so that my kid isn’t disturbed as they learn.

Except they don’t keep it quiet. They play music, games, and even porn at audible levels.

All the same things they and the teachers do on the chromeboks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ModeratelyMoco wrote:Related to cell phone use in schools, I was surprised when analyzing the first 1250 responses to Dr. Taylor's survey that overwhelmingly the top issue mentioned seems to be cell phone use:

https://moderatelymoco.com/part-two-data-driven-decisions-detailed-analysis-of-mcps-superintendents-survey-responses/

wow, look at the count for anything related to cell phone use. Definitely a high priority for parents to implement a district wide ban on smart phone use in schools.

Just like the MVA people, there is a very loud and vocal minority sliver of people who care a whole lot about this and scream from the hilltops. If most people didn’t want their kids to have phones, most people would not be giving their kids phones…but they do.

You should give a damn about your kid’s education. You can claim your angel child would never take their cellphone out in class (spoiler: they do) but even if they didn’t…. The rest of the students do which affects everyone in the classroom and disrupts learning. What about this don’t you understand?

I know my kid uses it in class. We montitor it. Sometimes to text us something important, sometimes teachers have them do something on it and sometimes goofing off. Focus on your own kid and stop demanding others do what you want as you don't want to parent yours.

DP but you’re clearly doing nothing by “monitoring.” Your kid is the problem. You’re the one not parenting your kids. Stop hiding behind “you don’t want to parent your kid” as an excuse. It’s mostly teachers here venting their frustrations with cellphones disrupting learning-not other parents. Wake up.

Yes. What is so important that it can't wait for between classes? The kid obviously isn't paying attention in class.

Changes in pick up times, bomb threat, gas line issues where school is evacuated, need me to take care of something. It’s too bad your kids cannot come to you for help.

DP.

None of those require a phone that connects to the internet.

Contacting you (parent) can be accomplished with a flip phone and parental controls that prohibit texting friends and games.

You decide what kind of phone your kids have, I'll decide what mine have. So your HS kids have a flip phone?

Mine had smart phones that were locked down during school hours. Three kids through MCPS, the last two graduated this year. All on honor roll and student leaders. Never any issues with them with the phones because we controlled the tech.

You?

Clearly the parents and teachers don't seem to get that. We had an issue once. The kid lost the phone for a week and strong parental controls. Teacher let us know. I checked in regularly to make sure it didn't happen again. Done. At home its highly restricted, as are the computers, and ipad. Schoolwork has to be done as well as everything else before they get it and generally they don't have enough time, so on the rare occasion they do have time I have no issue with it. I think these parents who are against it don't have kids who are busy in activities, homework, working, etc. so its a constant battle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am truly shocked at the parents on here who are arguing against a cell phone ban in schools. Either you really have never been in a modern, public classroom in a high school and are woefully out of touch, or you believe your child’s access to the device (bc you parent so well, and are so busy after school) overrules any larger, evidence-based social good that would come for the whole school were they to be banned. The data show that phones are awful for developing brains and teachers on here and IRL are telling you that they need them banned… and you are selfishly and/or stupidly arguing against it. It’s really shocking and depressing.

That's great but how I raise my children is none of your business.

Your children go to school with OTHER children! In a school paid for my the public’s taxes. It’s public school and cell phone use by underage kids is a PUBLIC health issue. The data are overwhelming.

We banned smoking in Schools (remember smoking courtyards in high schools?) and we mandated seatbelts. And we raised the drinking age. And cracked down on drunk driving. And god help us we ought to ban all assault weapons, too. These are public health issues just like phones in school.

Saying- MY kid can handle their phone okay is akin to 1970s parents griping about the seatbelt issue and the underage drinking. My kid = my way.

But in the US we have done something about public health issues, usually starting with schools. We look back at the days of the smoking courtyard and are shocked, right? I predict that eventually it’ll be the same with handing kids phones and letting them bring them to school. Or at least I hope it’s that way.

Remember that the tech barons of Silicon Valley don’t let their kids have phones and social media at the same rate/as early as it seems most people around here do. Why? They KNOW it’s too addictive! Like the Phillip Morris executives who stopped smoking long before the govt made them admit how harmful smoking was.

I just keep coming back to it- either you are incredibly selfish or seriously out of touch with a modern HS classroom. Or maybe you’re addicted yourself, and this conversation hits too close to home and you’re lashing out. Look, man, I know I’m addicted! I hate it! I know it’s lousy for my mental health etc, but god bless it I want better for American kids! We have to do right by then! Please listen to us teachers and don’t stand in the way of a cell phone ban in MCPS!

Of course those Sliicone Valley kids have phones and electronics. Be real. The parents just say that as its trendy.

I don't need or want you parenting my kids. If you have a problem with them, let me know. Focus on teaching and don't go days without teaching claiming its to let kids catch up when its really you odn't feel like teaching. And, they are playing games, youtube and browsing on the chromebooks, just like you are.

It's a public health issue, and no one wants to parent your kids, we want to educate them! And the research shows that cell phones in schools are bad for the whole school, and for individual students.

You seem like you really don't like teachers - I'm sorry you've had bad experiences.

Public schools don't allow guns or smoking anymore. Cell phones for kids in schools is the next public health issue. Even if your kids are okay, consider the environment as a whole and support a ban.

Agree with the PP who said to start with middle schools. YES!

[Anonymous]

Phones should be totally banned. The only option, based on what I see each day, is pouches.

I teach high school. If any parent is on the fence of thinks phone can be handled by students, spend one day inside a high school and then tell me it’s not a problem. The kids that aren’t on phones are also negatively impacted by the kids who are - it is terribly distracting.

Also, laptops are almost as much as a problem as phones. Kids are staring at screens in every class these days and we should try to curb that as well. Yes, we live in a world of screens now. But it’s not the best for kids who are not yet in that world - they have a lot of learning of to do, both on and off a screen.

Also, parents can text kids on their laptops. My school bans phones but that doesn’t stop mom from texting my students all day long. Phones are certainly not needed for parent contact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Phones should be totally banned. The only option, based on what I see each day, is pouches.

I teach high school. If any parent is on the fence of thinks phone can be handled by students, spend one day inside a high school and then tell me it’s not a problem. The kids that aren’t on phones are also negatively impacted by the kids who are - it is terribly distracting.

Also, laptops are almost as much as a problem as phones. Kids are staring at screens in every class these days and we should try to curb that as well. Yes, we live in a world of screens now. But it’s not the best for kids who are not yet in that world - they have a lot of learning of to do, both on and off a screen.

Also, parents can text kids on their laptops. My school bans phones but that doesn’t stop mom from texting my students all day long. Phones are certainly not needed for parent contact.

You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. You cannot text outside MCPS on the MCPS chromebooks. Nor can you email.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Phones should be totally banned. The only option, based on what I see each day, is pouches.

I teach high school. If any parent is on the fence of thinks phone can be handled by students, spend one day inside a high school and then tell me it’s not a problem. The kids that aren’t on phones are also negatively impacted by the kids who are - it is terribly distracting.

Also, laptops are almost as much as a problem as phones. Kids are staring at screens in every class these days and we should try to curb that as well. Yes, we live in a world of screens now. But it’s not the best for kids who are not yet in that world - they have a lot of learning of to do, both on and off a screen.

Also, parents can text kids on their laptops. My school bans phones but that doesn’t stop mom from texting my students all day long. Phones are certainly not needed for parent contact.

You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. You cannot text outside MCPS on the MCPS chromebooks. Nor can you email.

Use Parentvue to send your kid a message. Problem solved. So no. They do NOT need phones to communicate with you.

[Anonymous]

I teach at a private school. I did not know students only could use Chromebooks. No need to be rude. I am interested in MCPS policy on this because my own young children will go to MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach at a private school. I did not know students only could use Chromebooks. No need to be rude. I am interested in MCPS policy on this because my own young children will go to MCPS.

You should know before you post a comment that is made up. Send your kids to your private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Phones should be totally banned. The only option, based on what I see each day, is pouches.

I teach high school. If any parent is on the fence of thinks phone can be handled by students, spend one day inside a high school and then tell me it’s not a problem. The kids that aren’t on phones are also negatively impacted by the kids who are - it is terribly distracting.

Also, laptops are almost as much as a problem as phones. Kids are staring at screens in every class these days and we should try to curb that as well. Yes, we live in a world of screens now. But it’s not the best for kids who are not yet in that world - they have a lot of learning of to do, both on and off a screen.

Also, parents can text kids on their laptops. My school bans phones but that doesn’t stop mom from texting my students all day long. Phones are certainly not needed for parent contact.

You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. You cannot text outside MCPS on the MCPS chromebooks. Nor can you email.

Use Parentvue to send your kid a message. Problem solved. So no. They do NOT need phones to communicate with you.

It does not work. Yes, they need a phone especially after school hours when the office is closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Phones should be totally banned. The only option, based on what I see each day, is pouches.

I teach high school. If any parent is on the fence of thinks phone can be handled by students, spend one day inside a high school and then tell me it’s not a problem. The kids that aren’t on phones are also negatively impacted by the kids who are - it is terribly distracting.

Also, laptops are almost as much as a problem as phones. Kids are staring at screens in every class these days and we should try to curb that as well. Yes, we live in a world of screens now. But it’s not the best for kids who are not yet in that world - they have a lot of learning of to do, both on and off a screen.

Also, parents can text kids on their laptops. My school bans phones but that doesn’t stop mom from texting my students all day long. Phones are certainly not needed for parent contact.

You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. You cannot text outside MCPS on the MCPS chromebooks. Nor can you email.

Use Parentvue to send your kid a message. Problem solved. So no. They do NOT need phones to communicate with you.

It does not work. Yes, they need a phone especially after school hours when the office is closed.

Yes it does. I’ve done it numerous times. It just doesn’t fit your narrative. If your kid is at school late enough for the office to be “closed”, that means they are still with an adult. Who can take them into the office. To use the phone. Just stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Phones should be totally banned. The only option, based on what I see each day, is pouches.

I teach high school. If any parent is on the fence of thinks phone can be handled by students, spend one day inside a high school and then tell me it’s not a problem. The kids that aren’t on phones are also negatively impacted by the kids who are - it is terribly distracting.

Also, laptops are almost as much as a problem as phones. Kids are staring at screens in every class these days and we should try to curb that as well. Yes, we live in a world of screens now. But it’s not the best for kids who are not yet in that world - they have a lot of learning of to do, both on and off a screen.

Also, parents can text kids on their laptops. My school bans phones but that doesn’t stop mom from texting my students all day long. Phones are certainly not needed for parent contact.

You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. You cannot text outside MCPS on the MCPS chromebooks. Nor can you email.

Use Parentvue to send your kid a message. Problem solved. So no. They do NOT need phones to communicate with you.

It does not work. Yes, they need a phone especially after school hours when the office is closed.

Yes it does. I’ve done it numerous times. It just doesn’t fit your narrative. If your kid is at school late enough for the office to be “closed”, that means they are still with an adult. Who can take them into the office. To use the phone. Just stop.

How does being with an adult help with communication with parents? You think a teacher is going to hand over their cell phone to a child to text a parent to come get them? How does that work when there are 30-60+ students and one teacher? No pay phones, no office phone. The offices are closed and locked after school. Have you ever been to a high school come 4 PM and the office is open, or anywhere from 4-10-11/PM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Phones should be totally banned. The only option, based on what I see each day, is pouches.

I teach high school. If any parent is on the fence of thinks phone can be handled by students, spend one day inside a high school and then tell me it’s not a problem. The kids that aren’t on phones are also negatively impacted by the kids who are - it is terribly distracting.

Also, laptops are almost as much as a problem as phones. Kids are staring at screens in every class these days and we should try to curb that as well. Yes, we live in a world of screens now. But it’s not the best for kids who are not yet in that world - they have a lot of learning of to do, both on and off a screen.

Also, parents can text kids on their laptops. My school bans phones but that doesn’t stop mom from texting my students all day long. Phones are certainly not needed for parent contact.

You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. You cannot text outside MCPS on the MCPS chromebooks. Nor can you email.

Use Parentvue to send your kid a message. Problem solved. So no. They do NOT need phones to communicate with you.

It does not work. Yes, they need a phone especially after school hours when the office is closed.

Yes it does. I’ve done it numerous times. It just doesn’t fit your narrative. If your kid is at school late enough for the office to be “closed”, that means they are still with an adult. Who can take them into the office. To use the phone. Just stop.

How does being with an adult help with communication with parents? You think a teacher is going to hand over their cell phone to a child to text a parent to come get them? How does that work when there are 30-60+ students and one teacher? No pay phones, no office phone. The offices are closed and locked after school. Have you ever been to a high school come 4 PM and the office is open, or anywhere from 4-10-11/PM?

You sweet summer child… acting as if you know how the inner workings of schools are. Staff who stay after school either have a key to the office or the office isn’t necessarily locked in the back as it is the front. It depends on the school but there is ALWAYS a way for teachers in the building to have access to a telephone if they coach/lead extracurriculars. Stop posting because you have no idea what you’re talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Phones should be totally banned. The only option, based on what I see each day, is pouches.

I teach high school. If any parent is on the fence of thinks phone can be handled by students, spend one day inside a high school and then tell me it’s not a problem. The kids that aren’t on phones are also negatively impacted by the kids who are - it is terribly distracting.

Also, laptops are almost as much as a problem as phones. Kids are staring at screens in every class these days and we should try to curb that as well. Yes, we live in a world of screens now. But it’s not the best for kids who are not yet in that world - they have a lot of learning of to do, both on and off a screen.

Also, parents can text kids on their laptops. My school bans phones but that doesn’t stop mom from texting my students all day long. Phones are certainly not needed for parent contact.

You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. You cannot text outside MCPS on the MCPS chromebooks. Nor can you email.

Use Parentvue to send your kid a message. Problem solved. So no. They do NOT need phones to communicate with you.

It does not work. Yes, they need a phone especially after school hours when the office is closed.

Yes it does. I’ve done it numerous times. It just doesn’t fit your narrative. If your kid is at school late enough for the office to be “closed”, that means they are still with an adult. Who can take them into the office. To use the phone. Just stop.

How does being with an adult help with communication with parents? You think a teacher is going to hand over their cell phone to a child to text a parent to come get them? How does that work when there are 30-60+ students and one teacher? No pay phones, no office phone. The offices are closed and locked after school. Have you ever been to a high school come 4 PM and the office is open, or anywhere from 4-10-11/PM?

You sweet summer child… acting as if you know how the inner workings of schools are. Staff who stay after school either have a key to the office or the office isn’t necessarily locked in the back as it is the front. It depends on the school but there is ALWAYS a way for teachers in the building to have access to a telephone if they coach/lead extracurriculars. Stop posting because you have no idea what you’re talking about.

To add to this- now your argument is your kids NEED one solely bc of afterschool? Guess what? The ban doesn’t prevent them from bringing a phone on campus. It prevents them from having it during the day. The point was if you absolutely need to contact them during the day, call the office or email them through Parentvue. So simple. You just want to fight to prove your “point” but there are so many alternatives. You just refuse to listen.