Jackson-Reed phone policy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of a recent JR graduate and a current JR student, I’ll offer this: We can’t turn back time. Just like TV and every other technological advance seen by some as disastrous for kids, cell phones are not going away. The more we focus on teaching kids to use them responsibly, the better off they’ll be.

My kids know how and when to use their phones, including in school. They know what their teachers’ expectations are. They are smart, social kids, as are their friends; just like I didn’t fail to develop socially and emotionally because I was watched a lot of TV as a kid (alone and with friends), my kids aren’t stunted by their phone use.

I am thrilled that my kids missed the yondr experiment at JR, which by all accounts was a distraction and waste of time and money. I much prefer the school’s current approach, which I believe to be much more realistic and age-appropriate.

Except we had portable radios, walkmen, boomboxes when we were kids ... none of which were allowed in classrooms. Because they were distracting. Those little Nokia phones were becoming available when I started college and everyone kept them in their dorm rooms, since it was considered super awkward for your phone to ring in lecture. It's actually weird that we make more allowances for phones than for previous portable tech.

I've done the "set your own policy" as a teacher. It doesn't work. Kids go to the bathroom, take out the phone. Slip their hand in a backpack, look at the phone. Try to argue that another teacher is more chill, etc. It saves everyone time and headache just to say "no phones." It will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Most privates now forbid all cell phones in high school: St. Albans, GDS, Holton, St. Andrews, Landon, etc.

Of course they have the ability to punish kids who do not comply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what’s the deal with Grade 12?

Yes it appears they are exempting 12th graders. Not exactly sure why, maybe having something to do with many of them being 18 and legal adults, maybe they cannot legally restrict that age? But it's a real bummer to see that. I also worry that teachers and administrators will be walking the halls on their phones as usual, and make this not as effective as it if was a whole school rule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most privates now forbid all cell phones in high school: St. Albans, GDS, Holton, St. Andrews, Landon, etc.

Of course they have the ability to punish kids who do not comply.

What is each school doing? Are they use phone lockers or those locking bags? What does it mean to forbid a phone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most privates now forbid all cell phones in high school: St. Albans, GDS, Holton, St. Andrews, Landon, etc.

Of course they have the ability to punish kids who do not comply.

What is each school doing? Are they use phone lockers or those locking bags? What does it mean to forbid a phone?

There was another thread on this earlier this summer - it is my understanding that all DCPS middle schools collect phones (either in puches or lockers). High schools vary. Banneker, McKinley Tech, CHEC, and based on this thread - Latin - are high schools that collect phones. Others have policies about use, but unclear if the ones posted are up to date.

[Anonymous]

I wish DCPS would just make a blanket no phone policy. It’s weird because central office loves to mandate all sorts of ridiculous things (ex: you must be on this specific Eureka lesson on this specific day) but they won’t make policies that actually support learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish DCPS would just make a blanket no phone policy. It’s weird because central office loves to mandate all sorts of ridiculous things (ex: you must be on this specific Eureka lesson on this specific day) but they won’t make policies that actually support learning.

+1
The whole state of Virginia has a policy, and various counties/cities around the country are doing the same this summer. I wish there was more consistency. Although I am happy that all the DCPS middle schools are on the same page.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish DCPS would just make a blanket no phone policy. It’s weird because central office loves to mandate all sorts of ridiculous things (ex: you must be on this specific Eureka lesson on this specific day) but they won’t make policies that actually support learning.

Yes. Please.

[Anonymous]

Jackson-Reed, are you listening?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JR parent here. The school is abysmal about this. Apparently they leave it to teachers to set their own policy. It should really be the responsibility of the principal to set uniform rules. Another way Brown is a disappointment.

Came to say the same - our son is a rising senior and says there is zero enforcement of the no phone rule in any classes.

But that is sort of consistent with the total lack of rigor at J-R where you can get a 4.0 just for showing up.

Teacher at JR - and the school is abysmal about this -it is a huge problem. Kids on the phone in class and texting. Part of the problem is teaching has become very device dependent so when kid don't have their laptops or they aren't charge or...they use their phones. I try to teach without needing tech as much as possible. And do try to enforce phones away but without backup, it sometimes is more trouble than it is worth.

Big part of behavior problems at JR too - videoing fights, some kids like to wind up the teachers and record them. And cheating...oh my. Biggest issue? Administration does nothing to solve the problem and even encourages the abuse as the deans will often back the students up on getting phones back after they are taken away for repeated transgressions. Complain.