Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don't give your kids phones. Simple.

We don’t. But the kids with phones in classes make for a distracting classroom that’s impossible for teachers to manage.

Worry about your own kids but don’t expect when they need a phone to borrow one.

My kids never “need” to borrow a phone. They know how to get home walking or taking the bus, we have a meeting spot arranged for any activities, and we all think it’s healthier if they have freedom to live their lives without me knowing where they are every second of the day.

Anonymous wrote:I went from ES to MS this past year and phones are the reason I'm leaving education altogether. Barely any kid had a phone in ES and if they did, they left them in their backpacks. MS students live on their phones. They cannot function for less than two minutes without them and our principal was no help in the matter. "They are addicted and you can't just take away an addict's fix." It definitely needs to be addressed at a system level because each principal is going to have their own opinions on how to deal with them..and some principals obviously don't have the greatest decision making skills based on my own experience.

+1000
Another teacher here and in particular MS is the biggest problem. The kids cannot manage themselves and it just amplifies the usual MS drama.

I think that all MS should use the yondr pouches all day. Kids put them in at start of day and they are locked all day including lunch and passing times. Kids can unlock the pouches when they leave at the end of the day.

Right now kids are losing the ability to interact with each other because they are so phone addicted. Remove the phone and they have to talk to peers. Bonus is that with phones locked all day maybe parents won’t give in to peer pressure and hold off on getting their kid a phone until high school.

I went from ES to MS this past year and phones are the reason I'm leaving education altogether. Barely any kid had a phone in ES and if they did, they left them in their backpacks. MS students live on their phones. They cannot function for less than two minutes without them and our principal was no help in the matter. "They are addicted and you can't just take away an addict's fix." It definitely needs to be addressed at a system level because each principal is going to have their own opinions on how to deal with them..and some principals obviously don't have the greatest decision making skills based on my own experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don't give your kids phones. Simple.

We don’t. But the kids with phones in classes make for a distracting classroom that’s impossible for teachers to manage.

+1
My kid doesn't have a phone. But she's still affected when phones are out all the time. Totally changes what school is like.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don't give your kids phones. Simple.

We don’t. But the kids with phones in classes make for a distracting classroom that’s impossible for teachers to manage.

Worry about your own kids but don’t expect when they need a phone to borrow one.

It’s a good plan but kids need a place to put them during the day.

They could ban them in ES, at least.

Several private schools are banning them during the school day next year. It's only a matter of time for MCPS

Anonymous wrote:Mine don’t have phones still, but you can’t ban them entirely. Many do need them for after-school activities, communicating where they are, work arrangements, etc

You can keep them out of the classroom. Nobody needs to be able to track your exact location while you’re in school. Likewise with afterschool activities. Get your phone after school and arrange that. Or better yet, make a plan ahead of time and stick to it.

Mine don’t have phones still, but you can’t ban them entirely. Many do need them for after-school activities, communicating where they are, work arrangements, etc

Anonymous wrote:Just don't give your kids phones. Simple.

We don’t. But the kids with phones in classes make for a distracting classroom that’s impossible for teachers to manage.

Just don't give your kids phones. Simple.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the research is out, phones are awful for our kids. Not to mention they never belonged in classrooms to begin with. Is there any movement by MCPS to ban phones in classrooms? What’s the best way to organize for banning phones? School by school or at the MCPS level?

I think it's best to go at the system level, though MCPS seems to want to push the decision making process on this policy down to the school level, which makes NO sense.

Agree on both points.

Anonymous wrote:All the research is out, phones are awful for our kids. Not to mention they never belonged in classrooms to begin with. Is there any movement by MCPS to ban phones in classrooms? What’s the best way to organize for banning phones? School by school or at the MCPS level?

I think it's best to go at the system level, though MCPS seems to want to push the decision making process on this policy down to the school level, which makes NO sense.

All the research is out, phones are awful for our kids. Not to mention they never belonged in classrooms to begin with. Is there any movement by MCPS to ban phones in classrooms? What’s the best way to organize for banning phones? School by school or at the MCPS level?