Cell phone ban in schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Article in The NY Times regarding school cell phone bans taking effect in various states:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/11/technology/school-phone-bans-indiana-louisiana.html

I saw this. Once again, MCPS has its head stuck in the sand. But many clueless parents are just fine with that

I for one am glad that MCPS won't jump on these silly trends. It's a waste of time since they can't enforce it anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Article in The NY Times regarding school cell phone bans taking effect in various states:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/11/technology/school-phone-bans-indiana-louisiana.html

I saw this. Once again, MCPS has its head stuck in the sand. But many clueless parents are just fine with that

Exhibit A - clueless parent
I for one am glad that MCPS won't jump on these silly trends. It's a waste of time since they can't enforce it anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Article in The NY Times regarding school cell phone bans taking effect in various states:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/11/technology/school-phone-bans-indiana-louisiana.html

I saw this. Once again, MCPS has its head stuck in the sand. But many clueless parents are just fine with that

I for one am glad that MCPS won't jump on these silly trends. It's a waste of time since they can't enforce it anyway.

It’s not a “silly trend” it’s instructional disruption we’re dealing with on a near constant basis. Classroom time is effectively wasted due to phones. This can absolutely be enforced. MCPS just needs to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Distracted learning is a huge problem

+1

[Anonymous]

Add Arlington Public Schools to the list of nearby districts implementing a cell phone ban: https://wjla.com/news/local/arlington-county-public-schools-acps-cell-phone-free-policy-virginia-schools-students-teachers-learning-classroom-elementary-middle-high-school-policies-arlington-county-school-board-fairfax-county-loudoun-county-prince-william-county#

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Add Arlington Public Schools to the list of nearby districts implementing a cell phone ban: https://wjla.com/news/local/arlington-county-public-schools-acps-cell-phone-free-policy-virginia-schools-students-teachers-learning-classroom-elementary-middle-high-school-policies-arlington-county-school-board-fairfax-county-loudoun-county-prince-william-county#

“ High school students would be mandated to keep their cell phones silenced and away during classes, but can use their devices between classes and during lunch.”

That sounds the same as current MCPS policy. The issue is that the kids are NOT putting them away during class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Add Arlington Public Schools to the list of nearby districts implementing a cell phone ban: https://wjla.com/news/local/arlington-county-public-schools-acps-cell-phone-free-policy-virginia-schools-students-teachers-learning-classroom-elementary-middle-high-school-policies-arlington-county-school-board-fairfax-county-loudoun-county-prince-william-county#

“ High school students would be mandated to keep their cell phones silenced and away during classes, but can use their devices between classes and during lunch.”

That sounds the same as current MCPS policy. The issue is that the kids are NOT putting them away during class.

You’re right. Having a policy on paper without serious resources or measures behind enforcement is a waste of time. I still bet Arlington will handle it better than MCPS has though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Add Arlington Public Schools to the list of nearby districts implementing a cell phone ban: https://wjla.com/news/local/arlington-county-public-schools-acps-cell-phone-free-policy-virginia-schools-students-teachers-learning-classroom-elementary-middle-high-school-policies-arlington-county-school-board-fairfax-county-loudoun-county-prince-william-county#

“ High school students would be mandated to keep their cell phones silenced and away during classes, but can use their devices between classes and during lunch.”

That sounds the same as current MCPS policy. The issue is that the kids are NOT putting them away during class.

Then, what are teachers and admin going to do about it. Our principal is 100% of the problem as he makes rules and then is unwilling to enforce them and finds ways to justify not implementing them. They need to bring in some tuff principals and work with parents and teachers to get things under control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Add Arlington Public Schools to the list of nearby districts implementing a cell phone ban: https://wjla.com/news/local/arlington-county-public-schools-acps-cell-phone-free-policy-virginia-schools-students-teachers-learning-classroom-elementary-middle-high-school-policies-arlington-county-school-board-fairfax-county-loudoun-county-prince-william-county#

“ High school students would be mandated to keep their cell phones silenced and away during classes, but can use their devices between classes and during lunch.”

That sounds the same as current MCPS policy. The issue is that the kids are NOT putting them away during class.

Then, what are teachers and admin going to do about it. Our principal is 100% of the problem as he makes rules and then is unwilling to enforce them and finds ways to justify not implementing them. They need to bring in some tuff principals and work with parents and teachers to get things under control.

I don't disagree with you that we have weak leadership at the principal level, but I would also ask why have we built a system that relies so much on the successful leadership of one individual? This is where we need to distribute power and responsibility because right now, things are either great or horrible, depending on how good your principal is.

[Anonymous]

This is my experience with cell phone bans. Student is on phone, I ask them to put it away. They tell me they were just checking the time. Same thing happens next day. I am told I need to contact parent. Parent does not know how to use Synergy or Remind, so I have to call. Parent supports student by saying they were just checking the time. Student continues to check time throughout the class. Student does poorly in class. I am told I need to contact parent.

I already have too many things to do and contacting home about being on their phone is not one of the things I am going to be doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is my experience with cell phone bans. Student is on phone, I ask them to put it away. They tell me they were just checking the time. Same thing happens next day. I am told I need to contact parent. Parent does not know how to use Synergy or Remind, so I have to call. Parent supports student by saying they were just checking the time. Student continues to check time throughout the class. Student does poorly in class. I am told I need to contact parent.

I already have too many things to do and contacting home about being on their phone is not one of the things I am going to be doing.

Tell admin that you already did your job: you told the student to put their phone away, called the parent, and taught your class.

If the kid chooses to be on their phone while in class and the parent supports it after you notified them, then they should deal with the consequences of their decision. It’s not your problem!

Signed,
A school counselor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Article in The NY Times regarding school cell phone bans taking effect in various states:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/11/technology/school-phone-bans-indiana-louisiana.html

I saw this. Once again, MCPS has its head stuck in the sand. But many clueless parents are just fine with that

I for one am glad that MCPS won't jump on these silly trends. It's a waste of time since they can't enforce it anyway.

It’s not a “silly trend” it’s instructional disruption we’re dealing with on a near constant basis. Classroom time is effectively wasted due to phones. This can absolutely be enforced. MCPS just needs to do it.

Have to disagree. They can't enforce it and it will just take away class time from kids that want to learn. Even if they were able to take phones away the same kids would find some other way to distract themselves and others.

[Anonymous]

Principals love to blame harrass and fire new teachers while blaming them for the cell phones student behavior and violence. Teachers have no support and we want to inform new teachers about this before joining this dysfunctional profession. Its not what they market education to be. Its shtshow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is my experience with cell phone bans. Student is on phone, I ask them to put it away. They tell me they were just checking the time. Same thing happens next day. I am told I need to contact parent. Parent does not know how to use Synergy or Remind, so I have to call. Parent supports student by saying they were just checking the time. Student continues to check time throughout the class. Student does poorly in class. I am told I need to contact parent.

I already have too many things to do and contacting home about being on their phone is not one of the things I am going to be doing.

This is what I don't get. As a teacher, as you point out, the limitations of relying on teachers to enforce these cell phone policies is clear to anyone who is willing to think critically and practically about it for more than 2 seconds.

So why do principals and MCPS central office behave as if this scenario that you described will not happen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Principals love to blame harrass and fire new teachers while blaming them for the cell phones student behavior and violence. Teachers have no support and we want to inform new teachers about this before joining this dysfunctional profession. Its not what they market education to be. Its shtshow.

How about we, parents and teachers, hold principals accountable for being the BS artists that they are? I'm sick of our schools failing because we let inept or corrupt principals neglect or ignore real problems.