Why not phone free

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our private school makes you put your phones away, but the biggest difference that I noticed is that most of the kids in our private school have Apple computers where is the kids at the public schools are given school computers, which are Dells. Having an Apple computer allows you to basically have your phone with you, even when your phone is away. It allows you to text, it can mimic your phone screen, etc..
That is where public schools have the edge honestly

Is this HS? I assume kids aren't allowed to bring in their own devices in MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our private school makes you put your phones away, but the biggest difference that I noticed is that most of the kids in our private school have Apple computers where is the kids at the public schools are given school computers, which are Dells. Having an Apple computer allows you to basically have your phone with you, even when your phone is away. It allows you to text, it can mimic your phone screen, etc..
That is where public schools have the edge honestly

My DS teaches at a private school. He said the policy is if the kids are caught using their computer like a phone (texting on their Macbook) it is considered a violation of the phone policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our private school makes you put your phones away, but the biggest difference that I noticed is that most of the kids in our private school have Apple computers where is the kids at the public schools are given school computers, which are Dells. Having an Apple computer allows you to basically have your phone with you, even when your phone is away. It allows you to text, it can mimic your phone screen, etc..
That is where public schools have the edge honestly

My DS teaches at a private school. He said the policy is if the kids are caught using their computer like a phone (texting on their Macbook) it is considered a violation of the phone policy.

This is also the case at our school (where, to a PP's point, the MS kids do bring their own devices). Many teachers have also tightened up when the laptops can be out to reduce distraction and infractions.

[Anonymous]

Our privaet also bans Apple Watches during the day. Only old-fashioned watches allowed.

The benefit at private is they can enforce the rules and that's that. If you are a real problem, you won't be coming back next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are public schools so far ahead with bell to bell phone free while private schools lets students keep their phones and just “put them away” during class?

Really, which school is that? Ours has had the lower grades turn in any devices (watches, phones) for several years now and the upper schoolers have been doing the locked pouches. You really don't see any phones when you walk around unless it's after school.

[Anonymous]

We recently did a tour at Sidwell and while they said phones are away when they’re inside the building they’re allowed to take them out when they leave the building. And as soon as students walked out into the courtyard around 11:30 at the end of our tour, most of them quickly, pulled their phones out. Small groups were sitting, looking at their own phones, individuals looking on their own phones, people walking and looking at their phones. Apparently they get some type of points taken away if they’re caught on their phone, but we didn’t see a single student have a conversation with an adult while we were out there for about 15 minutes at the end of our tour. I find this fascinating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We recently did a tour at Sidwell and while they said phones are away when they’re inside the building they’re allowed to take them out when they leave the building. And as soon as students walked out into the courtyard around 11:30 at the end of our tour, most of them quickly, pulled their phones out. Small groups were sitting, looking at their own phones, individuals looking on their own phones, people walking and looking at their phones. Apparently they get some type of points taken away if they’re caught on their phone, but we didn’t see a single student have a conversation with an adult while we were out there for about 15 minutes at the end of our tour. I find this fascinating.

That’s disappointing. I would hope for better.

[Anonymous]

I think the K-8th are handling this better than the K-12. They are completely banned bell to bell at our K-8th. I think HSs have a harder time because parents care more about logistics etc. it’s easier to say no to a 7th grader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it’s the opposite. Public schools might have a strong written policy, but they poorly enforced it. They are limited to what they can do and overlook most things.

Our public middle school's policy works great because students actually turn in their phones upon entry and then pick it up again when leaving for the day.

Our public high school has the "keep it in your backpack" policy, which is much less effective.

[Anonymous]

Private school parents complain more about d have more direct control of the purse strings. Just look at the schools that announced summer 2024 they were going to use Yondr pouches and then caved as soon as schoo started. These are the same schools with student parking lots full for $40,000 cars and overlooking Starbucks single use plastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the K-8th are handling this better than the K-12. They are completely banned bell to bell at our K-8th. I think HSs have a harder time because parents care more about logistics etc. it’s easier to say no to a 7th grader.

6-12s are also handling it well. The problem seems to be the K-12s and the culture of “privilege” as kids gets older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the K-8th are handling this better than the K-12. They are completely banned bell to bell at our K-8th. I think HSs have a harder time because parents care more about logistics etc. it’s easier to say no to a 7th grader.

6-12s are also handling it well. The problem seems to be the K-12s and the culture of “privilege” as kids gets older.

Our k-12 is handling it fine. Full bell-to-bell ban.

[Anonymous]

Our private has MS students put them in a box when at the beginning of the day. Pick them up at the end of the day. US allows students to have them on them, but if they get caught using them in class, there are consequences.

[Anonymous]

My kids have been at 3 private schools and a public school in the last three years. I'm not sure what the phone policy was at her public school, but my daughter was constantly on her phone. At her private schools (a K-8 and a high school) she's never on it. My son (at another private high school) is on it more often but he's not allowed to have it in the school house.

[Anonymous]

Georgetown Visitation does not allow them at all.