Reply to MCPS cell phone restriction program shows promising changes, staff say

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]HS teacher here. Sorry if I have a fixed mindset but I’m afraid the damage has been done and cell phones are a lost cause. No way can one teacher manage 30+ students and their cell phones while teaching at the same time. A parent meeting is a consequence? What happens when parents refuse to come in, or can’t come in bc they’re working and demand to have their $1000 phone returned? If they are willing to come in, who has time to run these meetings? Are we hiring cell phone police to do all this? Teachers and Admin are already stretched too thin. [/quote]

I agree with this. Cell phones in schools were being discussed on Elliot in the Morning a couple of weeks ago and the comments from many callers were basically it's easy to just take it in and use in class and there is no enforcement. One person (a teacher) said that only if there are IMMEDIATE consequences will there be full compliance. "Being warned" is certainly not a consequence. And "mom & dad refusing to come in" as far from a consequence. Like you said, a teacher can't manage 30 phones and teach at the same time. The schools need a second staff member present in each classroom to deal with the phones.

I think it's a lost cause. 
[/quote]

In our middle school, if the phone is out, it gets confiscated and goes to the office for the rest of the day. Upon second offense, parent has to come pick it up.

It has been very effective.[/quote]

I assume this is MCPS in one of the pilot programs? Or if elsewhere, is it a student population that tends to follow the rules?

Who confiscates the phone? The teacher? What if Teacher 1 begins as strict about enforcement and Teacher 2 just lets it slide? How much do the kids argue with Teacher 1 when Teacher 2 doesn't enforce the rules?

[/quote]

At a pilot school. Teacher takes phone and them someone from the office comes to get it. All teachers enforce it — principal made a string push on enforcement this year with the adoption of the new policy.

And no, the students aren’t generally compliant; they are middle schoolers, after all. The enforced consequences are what make it work. [/quote]

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