WaPo: Students can’t get off their phones. Schools have had enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/05/09/school-cellphone-ban-yondr/

Article begins:

When students returned to school during the pandemic, educators quickly saw a change in their cellphone habits. More than ever, they were glued to the devices during class — posting on social media, searching YouTube, texting friends.

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So this year, schools in Ohio, Colorado, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, California and others banned the devices in class to curb student obsession, learning disruption, disciplinary incidents and mental health worries.

“We basically said, ‘This has got to stop,’” said Dayton Public Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli. “We’ve got academic issues that are not going to be fixed … if our students continue to sit on their phones.”


... Article continues....


https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/05/09/school-cellphone-ban-yondr

My comment: Looks like a submarine advertisement for $16 pouches. More corporate junk to waste taxpayer money instead of making and enforcing rules[b].

Agree. No thanks.

My kid plays a sport where they are required to put their phone away in a backpack for the entirety of the game/practice. All the kids do it.

Set rules and enforce them.

This. Sounds like a fluff article to get readers. Mcps teaching style and attitudes are the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An effective intervention that costs only $16 per kid would be the cheapest thing yet. If you’re worried about waste in the education system, this ain’t it.

+1 I have been posting about the phone pouch for a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Also bring back textbooks. No homework or online grades. Many fewer assignments but more quality.

This requires a lot of shelving and organizing of paper.

It will never happen but it will soon be his the elite are educated. The poor kids will get YouTube videos and online worksheets.

I’m a teacher….20 years.

Is this satire?
You know where those papers go once people are done with them? The trash.

and children don't have newspapers glued to their hands, with their nose in it all day. That was a dumb comparison.

[Anonymous]

It says "MD" is included, but what are the proposing in MD? I don't see any proposal about phone usage in class.

They already have a phone policy in MCPS, but it's at the teacher's discretion, and some teachers just don't care enough to do anything about phone use in the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It says "MD" is included, but what are the proposing in MD? I don't see any proposal about phone usage in class.

They already have a phone policy in MCPS, but it's at the teacher's discretion, and some teachers just don't care enough to do anything about phone use in the class.

My son is in Frederick County middle school and they aren't allowed to have their phones out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It says "MD" is included, but what are the proposing in MD? I don't see any proposal about phone usage in class.

They already have a phone policy in MCPS, but it's at the teacher's discretion, and some teachers just don't care enough to do anything about phone use in the class.

Some teachers "don't care" because they're not willing to risky their physical safety and wellbeing by confronting screen addicted teens over their phone use.

This exact scenario just played out in the news: https://nypost.com/2023/05/08/tennessee-teen-pepper-sprays-teacher-after-he-takes-her-phone/

Teachers should not be on the hook for enforcing MCPS's cell phone policy. It's not safe and it's not fair to them.

[Anonymous]

I think it is important to point out to both students and parents at the start of the semester that cell phone are not to be used in class. Students who spend time on their devices in class and do not pay attention are responsible for their own status in class. No complaints from either students or parents about grades or class status will be entertained if the student is routinely on their device during class. This is the only warning.

Then let the students be responsible for policing themselves. They're going to have to learn in college and the work force that if they are constantly distracted and not paying attention to their work, then they bear the consequences of their own habits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An effective intervention that costs only $16 per kid would be the cheapest thing yet. If you’re worried about waste in the education system, this ain’t it.

+1 I have been posting about the phone pouch for a year.

So glad nobody will listen to you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is important to point out to both students and parents at the start of the semester that cell phone are not to be used in class. Students who spend time on their devices in class and do not pay attention are responsible for their own status in class. No complaints from either students or parents about grades or class status will be entertained if the student is routinely on their device during class. This is the only warning.

Then let the students be responsible for policing themselves. They're going to have to learn in college and the work force that if they are constantly distracted and not paying attention to their work, then they bear the consequences of their own habits.

Sorry but if teachers can't make their subjects interesting enough kids are free to do whatever. This is America!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It says "MD" is included, but what are the proposing in MD? I don't see any proposal about phone usage in class.

They already have a phone policy in MCPS, but it's at the teacher's discretion, and some teachers just don't care enough to do anything about phone use in the class.

Some teachers "don't care" because they're not willing to risky their physical safety and wellbeing by confronting screen addicted teens over their phone use.

This exact scenario just played out in the news: https://nypost.com/2023/05/08/tennessee-teen-pepper-sprays-teacher-after-he-takes-her-phone/

Teachers should not be on the hook for enforcing MCPS's cell phone policy. It's not safe and it's not fair to them.

What? Then who? They are the ones in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is important to point out to both students and parents at the start of the semester that cell phone are not to be used in class. Students who spend time on their devices in class and do not pay attention are responsible for their own status in class. No complaints from either students or parents about grades or class status will be entertained if the student is routinely on their device during class. This is the only warning.

Then let the students be responsible for policing themselves. They're going to have to learn in college and the work force that if they are constantly distracted and not paying attention to their work, then they bear the consequences of their own habits.

I kind of like this, because it establishes consequences without making the teachers responsible for policing in class.

Maybe this waiver should be mandatorily signed by parents just like report cards and emergency contact cards are?

I imagine there'd still be whining and excuses from offenders who will claim the teacher THOUGHT they were on their phone but they really weren't, but still. We need to get firmer about putting teeth behind the cell phone policy and this is at least a step in that direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is important to point out to both students and parents at the start of the semester that cell phone are not to be used in class. Students who spend time on their devices in class and do not pay attention are responsible for their own status in class. No complaints from either students or parents about grades or class status will be entertained if the student is routinely on their device during class. This is the only warning.

Then let the students be responsible for policing themselves. They're going to have to learn in college and the work force that if they are constantly distracted and not paying attention to their work, then they bear the consequences of their own habits.

Sorry but if teachers can't make their subjects interesting enough kids are free to do whatever. This is America!

You are the problem. Is your young adult going to talk to his boss like that one day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It says "MD" is included, but what are the proposing in MD? I don't see any proposal about phone usage in class.

They already have a phone policy in MCPS, but it's at the teacher's discretion, and some teachers just don't care enough to do anything about phone use in the class.

Some teachers "don't care" because they're not willing to risky their physical safety and wellbeing by confronting screen addicted teens over their phone use.

This exact scenario just played out in the news: https://nypost.com/2023/05/08/tennessee-teen-pepper-sprays-teacher-after-he-takes-her-phone/

Teachers should not be on the hook for enforcing MCPS's cell phone policy. It's not safe and it's not fair to them.

What? Then who? They are the ones in the classroom.

What are you going to do about the violent students who attack teachers over confiscating their phones? If you solve for that, then we can discuss teachers being on the hook for enforcement. Until then, it's not right and it's not fair. Teachers aren't police officers or firefighters. They do not sign up to put themselves in harm's way like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is important to point out to both students and parents at the start of the semester that cell phone are not to be used in class. Students who spend time on their devices in class and do not pay attention are responsible for their own status in class. No complaints from either students or parents about grades or class status will be entertained if the student is routinely on their device during class. This is the only warning.

Then let the students be responsible for policing themselves. They're going to have to learn in college and the work force that if they are constantly distracted and not paying attention to their work, then they bear the consequences of their own habits.

Sorry but if teachers can't make their subjects interesting enough kids are free to do whatever. This is America!

This is why our cell phone bans aren't working. Entitled parents with attitudes like this. We're doomed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the many reasons I love my kids’ private school. Strict rules to keep phones and Apple Watches in their lockers until the end of the school day!

As a public school teacher, I’m heartbroken that we can’t enforce the same rule for our students. They are constantly distracted by their phones!

My kid's private MS requires they stay in the locker. The private HS allows them to keep them, but if they are out during class time without teacher permission they are locked and in the principal's office and only a parent or guardian can get it back.

I think some version of taking it during class at public schools could be enforced, but maybe it's harder than I think.