What does “bell to bell phone free school” actually MEAN?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of kids taking photos in the bathroom, crashing into each other because their heads are down texting, or arranging to meet up in the hallways during class has dropped significantly due to no phones in hallways this year.

--HS teacher

As a high school teacher, do you think the kids should have access to them during lunch?
It seems to me a lot of damage could be done in that 30 minutes. Social skills and mental health would improve if they did not have access to them for the full seven hours.

Worry about your own kid. I'm a teacher and I see two kinds of kids at the school - those sitting with friends and having a great time, even with phones, and those sitting by themselves, who are grateful just to have someone to do besides feel awkward and alone. And no, not having a phone wouldn't help. Ask anyone from the 80s.

+1, there will always be kids with no friends to talk with at lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of kids taking photos in the bathroom, crashing into each other because their heads are down texting, or arranging to meet up in the hallways during class has dropped significantly due to no phones in hallways this year.

--HS teacher

As a high school teacher, do you think the kids should have access to them during lunch?
It seems to me a lot of damage could be done in that 30 minutes. Social skills and mental health would improve if they did not have access to them for the full seven hours.

Worry about your own kid. I'm a teacher and I see two kinds of kids at the school - those sitting with friends and having a great time, even with phones, and those sitting by themselves, who are grateful just to have someone to do besides feel awkward and alone. And no, not having a phone wouldn't help. Ask anyone from the 80s.

+1, there will always be kids with no friends to talk with at lunch.

+1 and for them, the phone may be making them feel less uncomfortable. They can bury their noses in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of kids taking photos in the bathroom, crashing into each other because their heads are down texting, or arranging to meet up in the hallways during class has dropped significantly due to no phones in hallways this year.

--HS teacher

As a high school teacher, do you think the kids should have access to them during lunch?
It seems to me a lot of damage could be done in that 30 minutes. Social skills and mental health would improve if they did not have access to them for the full seven hours.

Worry about your own kid. I'm a teacher and I see two kinds of kids at the school - those sitting with friends and having a great time, even with phones, and those sitting by themselves, who are grateful just to have someone to do besides feel awkward and alone. And no, not having a phone wouldn't help. Ask anyone from the 80s.

+1, there will always be kids with no friends to talk with at lunch.

+1 and for them, the phone may be making them feel less uncomfortable. They can bury their noses in it.

Which is such a healthy coping mechanism to prepare them for being in the world

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of kids taking photos in the bathroom, crashing into each other because their heads are down texting, or arranging to meet up in the hallways during class has dropped significantly due to no phones in hallways this year.

--HS teacher

As a high school teacher, do you think the kids should have access to them during lunch?
It seems to me a lot of damage could be done in that 30 minutes. Social skills and mental health would improve if they did not have access to them for the full seven hours.

Worry about your own kid. I'm a teacher and I see two kinds of kids at the school - those sitting with friends and having a great time, even with phones, and those sitting by themselves, who are grateful just to have someone to do besides feel awkward and alone. And no, not having a phone wouldn't help. Ask anyone from the 80s.

+1, there will always be kids with no friends to talk with at lunch.

+1 and for them, the phone may be making them feel less uncomfortable. They can bury their noses in it.

Which is such a healthy coping mechanism to prepare them for being in the world

In the 90s they’d be burying their nose in a book. Same difference, in this limited example. Just like people eating out alone for lunch- they used to read the paper or a novel and now they read their phones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of kids taking photos in the bathroom, crashing into each other because their heads are down texting, or arranging to meet up in the hallways during class has dropped significantly due to no phones in hallways this year.

--HS teacher

As a high school teacher, do you think the kids should have access to them during lunch?
It seems to me a lot of damage could be done in that 30 minutes. Social skills and mental health would improve if they did not have access to them for the full seven hours.

Worry about your own kid. I'm a teacher and I see two kinds of kids at the school - those sitting with friends and having a great time, even with phones, and those sitting by themselves, who are grateful just to have someone to do besides feel awkward and alone. And no, not having a phone wouldn't help. Ask anyone from the 80s.

I am a high school teacher too. I think there is a third group in the middle, who will use a phone if it’s available but otherwise will socialize. I teach at a school that started enforcing no phones at lunch in fall 2024, and there is also a lot more socialization, and fewer unconnected kids.

I will also say that as a pretty shy kid who did eat alone a lot, what I did during lunch, which was mostly reading, and what I see solo kids doing at lunch now in my school which is homework, or reading, going to the open art studio to draw, is way healthier than social media or consuming inappropriate content online.

[Anonymous]

I’m a Langley parent and the teachers said they were thrilled with the new policy because the students were participating more in class. My kid might text during lunch, but he’s off his phone for the most part. OP, maybe say something to your DD’s teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of kids taking photos in the bathroom, crashing into each other because their heads are down texting, or arranging to meet up in the hallways during class has dropped significantly due to no phones in hallways this year.

--HS teacher

As a high school teacher, do you think the kids should have access to them during lunch?
It seems to me a lot of damage could be done in that 30 minutes. Social skills and mental health would improve if they did not have access to them for the full seven hours.

Worry about your own kid. I'm a teacher and I see two kinds of kids at the school - those sitting with friends and having a great time, even with phones, and those sitting by themselves, who are grateful just to have someone to do besides feel awkward and alone. And no, not having a phone wouldn't help. Ask anyone from the 80s.

+1, there will always be kids with no friends to talk with at lunch.

+1 and for them, the phone may be making them feel less uncomfortable. They can bury their noses in it.

Which is such a healthy coping mechanism to prepare them for being in the world

Honestly, yes. I’m a huge introvert, social with friends and happily married. I spent a lot of lunches in the art room where I could get quiet and because the teacher let me go there.

I’m the parent you see at the sports games sitting alone on my phone when I’m not cheering. Don’t take it personal. I just need alone time after work or on the weekend. I understand those kids. Let them have their phones. They might have friends but need alone time in their own world to recharge. School is overwhelming.