New Policy: APS school board adopts all-day ban on student phone use, makes one exception

[Anonymous]

No, 01/16/2025 12:09, limited access was defined by YHS. It's just during lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, 01/16/2025 12:09, limited access was defined by YHS. It's just during lunch.

Not all kids go to YHS. ??

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I have a real-life HS student (not a 3rd grader) at a school where phones are officially banned. Kids still use them sparingly and the teachers generally overlook it.

I got a quick text this morning (between classes) saying that an after-school activity is cancelled, which is helpful for me to receive now so I can rearrange my schedule to pick the kid up several hours earlier.

If kid told me this at 2:30 it'd be a huge PITA.

Are the nasty PPs really so unimaginative that they can't think of [i]any[/] scenarios when phones would be helpful? GMAFB.

Okay, I actually would be okay with kids having flip phones.

We can get Tello with 500 text a month for $5, a flip phone is like what $50? Maybe it would eh cheaper just to issue every student a school flip phone rather than pouch?

But that would probably be fine.

1 minute text on smart phone vs 1 minute text on flip phone. No difference.

I have a bridge to sell you if you all think that kids will limit their phone usage to “1-minute texts to parents.”

If they are shuffling between classes in a massive building there really isn’t that much time. You clearly don’t have HS kids in APS.

Anyway, some whiny poster was asking for “just one reason” why kids might need their phones between classes. I gave one.

I support teachers who want to ban phones in their classroom, but I’m glad that my kid’s teachers aren’t so rigid; they are ok with kids sending a text every now and then between classes.

Actually, I'm that person and I asked why it was so critical - not why they might use it.
To explain what I mean by critical: so essential that the need cannot be met by another means.

No one has found another mode that replaces it

No, nobody has found a mode that equals its efficiency or sufficiently replaces it to your satisfaction. It seems very fortunate for you that you have not had to be a parent (or apparently a kid, either) in the time before cell phones since you seem incapable of anything less quick or convenient. These may be difficult times for you until your kid(s) are no longer in a school with a phone ban. I hope you can take comfort knowing it won't be forever and that there are indeed ways to survive it.

Here is the nasty poster.

Maybe you haven't heard but the policy is NOT a complete ban. Kids are allowed to have limited access, which is reasonable and fair. Suck it.

I know the policy - bell to bell with accommodation made for limited lunchtime access and exceptions for IEP accommodations. Apparently YHS has implemented a variation that allows access in a designated place in the library (as indicated by a previous comment in the thread). Since it is not a complete ban and is reasonable and fair, there shouldn't be any issues or complaints about it. Yet, here we are with so many of you complaining about usage being banned between classes.
I don't need to suck it. I am fine with the policy.

Not lunchtime - that is still TBD.

Kids get one freebie before getting in trouble. So the overall result is that kids will use phones a lot less (yay!), but there is some flexibility there/AKA kids can send a quick text between classes (yay!).

That's great you are fine with the policy that allows me and my kid to occasionally text during the day.

So weird. My high school students gets through the day without texting us, and honestly I’m too busy working to really think about it. Is your job part time or something?

Is your sports coach really flaky? They have never cancelled our practices or games last minute, I just can’t even tell why you need to check in. These high school students will be at college in just a couple years, they could go a week without texting you.

Exactly!
Unfortunately for these kids, the tether will still be in place receiving texts from home....It'll be too much of a risk of freaking their parents out if they don't continue to respond to each one.

Strawman! Strawman!

I haven't seen any parent say that they are constantly texting their kids. We are all too busy for that. AND phones are banned. Parents just want some flexibility when it's needed, that's all. Which is what the new policy allows.

Actually the new policy is too rigid. It doesn't allow teachers to use their discretion at all. It also allows just one period a day for kids to use their phone. What if a need comes up after that?

The limited access hasn't been defined yet. And, outside of that limited access, kids get one reminder before getting in trouble. That seems like it would provide enough flexibility for teachers. Guess we will see how it evolves over the remainder of the year.

every high school i know of defined it. do you not have a kid in HS PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a real-life HS student (not a 3rd grader) at a school where phones are officially banned. Kids still use them sparingly and the teachers generally overlook it.

I got a quick text this morning (between classes) saying that an after-school activity is cancelled, which is helpful for me to receive now so I can rearrange my schedule to pick the kid up several hours earlier.

If kid told me this at 2:30 it'd be a huge PITA.

Are the nasty PPs really so unimaginative that they can't think of [i]any[/] scenarios when phones would be helpful? GMAFB.

Okay, I actually would be okay with kids having flip phones.

We can get Tello with 500 text a month for $5, a flip phone is like what $50? Maybe it would eh cheaper just to issue every student a school flip phone rather than pouch?

But that would probably be fine.

1 minute text on smart phone vs 1 minute text on flip phone. No difference.

I have a bridge to sell you if you all think that kids will limit their phone usage to “1-minute texts to parents.”

If they are shuffling between classes in a massive building there really isn’t that much time. You clearly don’t have HS kids in APS.

Anyway, some whiny poster was asking for “just one reason” why kids might need their phones between classes. I gave one.

I support teachers who want to ban phones in their classroom, but I’m glad that my kid’s teachers aren’t so rigid; they are ok with kids sending a text every now and then between classes.

Actually, I'm that person and I asked why it was so critical - not why they might use it.
To explain what I mean by critical: so essential that the need cannot be met by another means.

No one has found another mode that replaces it

No, nobody has found a mode that equals its efficiency or sufficiently replaces it to your satisfaction. It seems very fortunate for you that you have not had to be a parent (or apparently a kid, either) in the time before cell phones since you seem incapable of anything less quick or convenient. These may be difficult times for you until your kid(s) are no longer in a school with a phone ban. I hope you can take comfort knowing it won't be forever and that there are indeed ways to survive it.

Here is the nasty poster.

Maybe you haven't heard but the policy is NOT a complete ban. Kids are allowed to have limited access, which is reasonable and fair. Suck it.

I know the policy - bell to bell with accommodation made for limited lunchtime access and exceptions for IEP accommodations. Apparently YHS has implemented a variation that allows access in a designated place in the library (as indicated by a previous comment in the thread). Since it is not a complete ban and is reasonable and fair, there shouldn't be any issues or complaints about it. Yet, here we are with so many of you complaining about usage being banned between classes.
I don't need to suck it. I am fine with the policy.

Not lunchtime - that is still TBD.

Kids get one freebie before getting in trouble. So the overall result is that kids will use phones a lot less (yay!), but there is some flexibility there/AKA kids can send a quick text between classes (yay!).

That's great you are fine with the policy that allows me and my kid to occasionally text during the day.

So weird. My high school students gets through the day without texting us, and honestly I’m too busy working to really think about it. Is your job part time or something?

Is your sports coach really flaky? They have never cancelled our practices or games last minute, I just can’t even tell why you need to check in. These high school students will be at college in just a couple years, they could go a week without texting you.

Exactly!
Unfortunately for these kids, the tether will still be in place receiving texts from home....It'll be too much of a risk of freaking their parents out if they don't continue to respond to each one.

Strawman! Strawman!

I haven't seen any parent say that they are constantly texting their kids. We are all too busy for that. AND phones are banned. Parents just want some flexibility when it's needed, that's all. Which is what the new policy allows.

Actually the new policy is too rigid. It doesn't allow teachers to use their discretion at all. It also allows just one period a day for kids to use their phone. What if a need comes up after that?

One reminder per kid per class per day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a real-life HS student (not a 3rd grader) at a school where phones are officially banned. Kids still use them sparingly and the teachers generally overlook it.

I got a quick text this morning (between classes) saying that an after-school activity is cancelled, which is helpful for me to receive now so I can rearrange my schedule to pick the kid up several hours earlier.

If kid told me this at 2:30 it'd be a huge PITA.

Are the nasty PPs really so unimaginative that they can't think of [i]any[/] scenarios when phones would be helpful? GMAFB.

Okay, I actually would be okay with kids having flip phones.

We can get Tello with 500 text a month for $5, a flip phone is like what $50? Maybe it would eh cheaper just to issue every student a school flip phone rather than pouch?

But that would probably be fine.

1 minute text on smart phone vs 1 minute text on flip phone. No difference.

I have a bridge to sell you if you all think that kids will limit their phone usage to “1-minute texts to parents.”

If they are shuffling between classes in a massive building there really isn’t that much time. You clearly don’t have HS kids in APS.

Anyway, some whiny poster was asking for “just one reason” why kids might need their phones between classes. I gave one.

I support teachers who want to ban phones in their classroom, but I’m glad that my kid’s teachers aren’t so rigid; they are ok with kids sending a text every now and then between classes.

Actually, I'm that person and I asked why it was so critical - not why they might use it.
To explain what I mean by critical: so essential that the need cannot be met by another means.

No one has found another mode that replaces it

No, nobody has found a mode that equals its efficiency or sufficiently replaces it to your satisfaction. It seems very fortunate for you that you have not had to be a parent (or apparently a kid, either) in the time before cell phones since you seem incapable of anything less quick or convenient. These may be difficult times for you until your kid(s) are no longer in a school with a phone ban. I hope you can take comfort knowing it won't be forever and that there are indeed ways to survive it.

Here is the nasty poster.

Maybe you haven't heard but the policy is NOT a complete ban. Kids are allowed to have limited access, which is reasonable and fair. Suck it.

I know the policy - bell to bell with accommodation made for limited lunchtime access and exceptions for IEP accommodations. Apparently YHS has implemented a variation that allows access in a designated place in the library (as indicated by a previous comment in the thread). Since it is not a complete ban and is reasonable and fair, there shouldn't be any issues or complaints about it. Yet, here we are with so many of you complaining about usage being banned between classes.
I don't need to suck it. I am fine with the policy.

Not lunchtime - that is still TBD.

Kids get one freebie before getting in trouble. So the overall result is that kids will use phones a lot less (yay!), but there is some flexibility there/AKA kids can send a quick text between classes (yay!).

That's great you are fine with the policy that allows me and my kid to occasionally text during the day.

So weird. My high school students gets through the day without texting us, and honestly I’m too busy working to really think about it. Is your job part time or something?

Is your sports coach really flaky? They have never cancelled our practices or games last minute, I just can’t even tell why you need to check in. These high school students will be at college in just a couple years, they could go a week without texting you.

Exactly!
Unfortunately for these kids, the tether will still be in place receiving texts from home....It'll be too much of a risk of freaking their parents out if they don't continue to respond to each one.

Strawman! Strawman!

I haven't seen any parent say that they are constantly texting their kids. We are all too busy for that. AND phones are banned. Parents just want some flexibility when it's needed, that's all. Which is what the new policy allows.

Actually the new policy is too rigid. It doesn't allow teachers to use their discretion at all. It also allows just one period a day for kids to use their phone. What if a need comes up after that?

The limited access hasn't been defined yet. And, outside of that limited access, kids get one reminder before getting in trouble. That seems like it would provide enough flexibility for teachers. Guess we will see how it evolves over the remainder of the year.

every high school i know of defined it. do you not have a kid in HS PP?

I haven't heard it yet for DHMS or WL. When was this communicated in email/ParentSquare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a real-life HS student (not a 3rd grader) at a school where phones are officially banned. Kids still use them sparingly and the teachers generally overlook it.

I got a quick text this morning (between classes) saying that an after-school activity is cancelled, which is helpful for me to receive now so I can rearrange my schedule to pick the kid up several hours earlier.

If kid told me this at 2:30 it'd be a huge PITA.

Are the nasty PPs really so unimaginative that they can't think of [i]any[/] scenarios when phones would be helpful? GMAFB.

Okay, I actually would be okay with kids having flip phones.

We can get Tello with 500 text a month for $5, a flip phone is like what $50? Maybe it would eh cheaper just to issue every student a school flip phone rather than pouch?

But that would probably be fine.

1 minute text on smart phone vs 1 minute text on flip phone. No difference.

I have a bridge to sell you if you all think that kids will limit their phone usage to “1-minute texts to parents.”

If they are shuffling between classes in a massive building there really isn’t that much time. You clearly don’t have HS kids in APS.

Anyway, some whiny poster was asking for “just one reason” why kids might need their phones between classes. I gave one.

I support teachers who want to ban phones in their classroom, but I’m glad that my kid’s teachers aren’t so rigid; they are ok with kids sending a text every now and then between classes.

Actually, I'm that person and I asked why it was so critical - not why they might use it.
To explain what I mean by critical: so essential that the need cannot be met by another means.

No one has found another mode that replaces it

No, nobody has found a mode that equals its efficiency or sufficiently replaces it to your satisfaction. It seems very fortunate for you that you have not had to be a parent (or apparently a kid, either) in the time before cell phones since you seem incapable of anything less quick or convenient. These may be difficult times for you until your kid(s) are no longer in a school with a phone ban. I hope you can take comfort knowing it won't be forever and that there are indeed ways to survive it.

Here is the nasty poster.

Maybe you haven't heard but the policy is NOT a complete ban. Kids are allowed to have limited access, which is reasonable and fair. Suck it.

I know the policy - bell to bell with accommodation made for limited lunchtime access and exceptions for IEP accommodations. Apparently YHS has implemented a variation that allows access in a designated place in the library (as indicated by a previous comment in the thread). Since it is not a complete ban and is reasonable and fair, there shouldn't be any issues or complaints about it. Yet, here we are with so many of you complaining about usage being banned between classes.
I don't need to suck it. I am fine with the policy.

Not lunchtime - that is still TBD.

Kids get one freebie before getting in trouble. So the overall result is that kids will use phones a lot less (yay!), but there is some flexibility there/AKA kids can send a quick text between classes (yay!).

That's great you are fine with the policy that allows me and my kid to occasionally text during the day.

So weird. My high school students gets through the day without texting us, and honestly I’m too busy working to really think about it. Is your job part time or something?

Is your sports coach really flaky? They have never cancelled our practices or games last minute, I just can’t even tell why you need to check in. These high school students will be at college in just a couple years, they could go a week without texting you.

Exactly!
Unfortunately for these kids, the tether will still be in place receiving texts from home....It'll be too much of a risk of freaking their parents out if they don't continue to respond to each one.

Strawman! Strawman!

I haven't seen any parent say that they are constantly texting their kids. We are all too busy for that. AND phones are banned. Parents just want some flexibility when it's needed, that's all. Which is what the new policy allows.

Actually the new policy is too rigid. It doesn't allow teachers to use their discretion at all. It also allows just one period a day for kids to use their phone. What if a need comes up after that?

One reminder per kid per class per day?

That's how I read it.

55 Consequences of Unauthorized Cellphone or Personal Electronic Communication Device Use
56 * School staff shall first request that a student turn off and put away their personal devices,
57 including cellphones. If a student complies, no further action is needed.
58 * If a student does not comply or must be requested to turn off and put away their device
59 multiple times within one class period or lunch period, consistently across multiple class or
60 lunch periods, or multiple times during the times between periods, staff may make a referral
61 to the appropriate administrator in the student information system. Administrative team
62 members include principals, assistant principals, deans, or directors of counseling.

[Anonymous]

At Yorktown, they are now confiscating phones if they are seen in the lunch room. My DC is following the rules, but said morale is really low, especially among seniors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Yorktown, they are now confiscating phones if they are seen in the lunch room. My DC is following the rules, but said morale is really low, especially among seniors.

Parent of WHS senior here.
Wakefield has been dealing with this since early in the school year and students there would probably argue it's worse because of the pouches. Nevertheless, it is hardly the end of the world and they'll get used to it. Especially the seniors whose senioritis is setting in to begin with and the new phone rules are just exacerbating it.
I hope the seniors can start focusing on all the other opportunities for fun and interest that seniors do to enjoy and finish out their high school years. For starters, they can gloat a little in fun jibing the underclassmen that at least they only have to endure phone prison for 5 months and they'll be free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Yorktown, they are now confiscating phones if they are seen in the lunch room. My DC is following the rules, but said morale is really low, especially among seniors.

Wasn’t one of the justifications for the all day ban to improve mental health? Seems that backfired. Treating seniors like toddlers -not cool!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Yorktown, they are now confiscating phones if they are seen in the lunch room. My DC is following the rules, but said morale is really low, especially among seniors.

Lovely. PLEASE let the school board know this is the result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Yorktown, they are now confiscating phones if they are seen in the lunch room. My DC is following the rules, but said morale is really low, especially among seniors.

Wasn’t one of the justifications for the all day ban to improve mental health? Seems that backfired. Treating seniors like toddlers -not cool!

Definitely backfired, but I remember reading a number of public comments concerned with this very issue that seemed to be ignored. I'm lucky that I have a senior who has permission to leave at lunch b/c the environment is not good right now. Lunch used to be a fun, relaxing time in between all the AP classes - not anymore.

To the poster mentioning senioritis, I think that is part of it. A lot of hard admit schools will be releasing soon, the semester is coming to an end and they came back from break and were being treated like elementary kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Yorktown, they are now confiscating phones if they are seen in the lunch room. My DC is following the rules, but said morale is really low, especially among seniors.

Which speaks to how addicted your kids are to phones. They can’t enjoy a free period hanging with their friends with food??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Yorktown, they are now confiscating phones if they are seen in the lunch room. My DC is following the rules, but said morale is really low, especially among seniors.

Which speaks to how addicted your kids are to phones. They can’t enjoy a free period hanging with their friends with food??

Proof the cell phone police don’t care if kids are hurt by their ban

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Yorktown, they are now confiscating phones if they are seen in the lunch room. My DC is following the rules, but said morale is really low, especially among seniors.

Well yeah of course if you are practically addicted to something and then you have to go cold turkey of course you are going to be sad and depressed. Duh. I am sure they will get over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Yorktown, they are now confiscating phones if they are seen in the lunch room. My DC is following the rules, but said morale is really low, especially among seniors.

Well yeah of course if you are practically addicted to something and then you have to go cold turkey of course you are going to be sad and depressed. Duh. I am sure they will get over it.

This is missing the point. They can use their phones if they leave campus. The frustration is that they are 17/18 years old and are being treated like 9 year olds.