Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SOURCE: https://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-county-new-guidelines-away-all-day-students-use-cell-phones-school-changes-personal-mobile-device-mcps-cellphone-update-elementary-middle-high-instructional-time-lunch-between-classes-maryland-education-crisis-focus-parents-concerns#

MCPS parent Jeremy Joseph sent the following statement to 7News about the new cell phone update:

“Overall, this is a positive step forward at the ES and MS level and a huge step backward for HS.

Explicitly allowing HS students to have phones during lunch and passing periods is totally and completely out of step with how Superintendent Taylor handled this issue last year in Stafford County or what LA County did in February and Baltimore County does and how countries around the world (including Brazil and Denmark) are tackling this issue.

This policy is only going to put MCPS high school students further behind compared to their peers in more forward-thinking municipalities, and only further harm Montgomery County's economic growth as the kids will come out of HS less prepared.

What's most upsetting is that in late March the County promised a robust comment process and engagement in finalizing the updated policy, which did not occur.

Why did they make the decision to allow highschoolers to keep their phones during lunch and passing periods?

We don't know?

How will the phone policy be enforced differently from the prior policy?

We don't know - there is no detail provided.

And they released this policy on a Friday afternoon, which in DC is when you drop something you want to bury.

The new policy would appear to reduce principal discretion to keep phones out of schools during lunch and passing periods, which is the only proven way to reduce the distraction of the phones to improve learning outcomes, reduce fights and bullying, and promote critical face to face interactions and allow kids to make new friends unbound by their online contacts.

At a minimum, the policy should be updated to allow HS principals the discretion to adopt the proven Away All Day policies.

Forcing this lowest common denominator is deeply troubling and counterproductive.

Some principals will have the chutzpah and moral conviction to do what's right, and the policy should not limit their initiative.

But really, the county should simply do what the Superintendent did last year in Stafford County or what LA County did in February and Baltimore County and around the world (including Brazil and Denmark) - keep the phones out of the kids hands from first bell to last bell.

That's what the data shows is the right choice across all relevant metrics: security, academic learning, socio-emotional success and an inclusive school environment, for teacher retention and satisfaction and for budget reasons (20% of each HS class is taken up by policing the phones). There's no data provided that makes this policy the right long-term choice for HS students!

As you know, a group of parents submitted a petition with more than 2,000 signatures supporting Away All Day policies, including in HS.

We have not received any response from MCPS in response to our petition. We are happy to continue engaging with MCPS on these important topics.”

Good effing Lord, when are parents going to understand they're not important stakeholders in public education? They need to stop complaining about every little thing and stay in their lane. This guy sounds like a clown.

I mean, my dude has enough money to live in-bounds for Walt Whitman. He could pay for Washington Waldorf if that's what he wanted. But expecting every kid in school to follow his family's rules around screen use is ludicrous. My kids don't cover their hair or keep kosher just because some of their classmates do, nor would I expect them to follow the rules of my family.

There is established research showing that excessive cell phone use is detrimental to learning and to teen mental health. Cheating in classrooms is also rampant through phone use. The surgeon general last year was a huge advocate of banning cell phone use in schools

Anonymous wrote:At my school, many kids are frequently late to class. There are no consequences for being late. This new policy will probably make tardiness a bigger issue because kids will dawdle in the hallways staring at their phones

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SOURCE: https://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-county-new-guidelines-away-all-day-students-use-cell-phones-school-changes-personal-mobile-device-mcps-cellphone-update-elementary-middle-high-instructional-time-lunch-between-classes-maryland-education-crisis-focus-parents-concerns#

MCPS parent Jeremy Joseph sent the following statement to 7News about the new cell phone update:

“Overall, this is a positive step forward at the ES and MS level and a huge step backward for HS.

Explicitly allowing HS students to have phones during lunch and passing periods is totally and completely out of step with how Superintendent Taylor handled this issue last year in Stafford County or what LA County did in February and Baltimore County does and how countries around the world (including Brazil and Denmark) are tackling this issue.

This policy is only going to put MCPS high school students further behind compared to their peers in more forward-thinking municipalities, and only further harm Montgomery County's economic growth as the kids will come out of HS less prepared.

What's most upsetting is that in late March the County promised a robust comment process and engagement in finalizing the updated policy, which did not occur.

Why did they make the decision to allow highschoolers to keep their phones during lunch and passing periods?

We don't know?

How will the phone policy be enforced differently from the prior policy?

We don't know - there is no detail provided.

And they released this policy on a Friday afternoon, which in DC is when you drop something you want to bury.

The new policy would appear to reduce principal discretion to keep phones out of schools during lunch and passing periods, which is the only proven way to reduce the distraction of the phones to improve learning outcomes, reduce fights and bullying, and promote critical face to face interactions and allow kids to make new friends unbound by their online contacts.

At a minimum, the policy should be updated to allow HS principals the discretion to adopt the proven Away All Day policies.

Forcing this lowest common denominator is deeply troubling and counterproductive.

Some principals will have the chutzpah and moral conviction to do what's right, and the policy should not limit their initiative.

But really, the county should simply do what the Superintendent did last year in Stafford County or what LA County did in February and Baltimore County and around the world (including Brazil and Denmark) - keep the phones out of the kids hands from first bell to last bell.

That's what the data shows is the right choice across all relevant metrics: security, academic learning, socio-emotional success and an inclusive school environment, for teacher retention and satisfaction and for budget reasons (20% of each HS class is taken up by policing the phones). There's no data provided that makes this policy the right long-term choice for HS students!

As you know, a group of parents submitted a petition with more than 2,000 signatures supporting Away All Day policies, including in HS.

We have not received any response from MCPS in response to our petition. We are happy to continue engaging with MCPS on these important topics.”

Good effing Lord, when are parents going to understand they're not important stakeholders in public education? They need to stop complaining about every little thing and stay in their lane. This guy sounds like a clown.

I mean, my dude has enough money to live in-bounds for Walt Whitman. He could pay for Washington Waldorf if that's what he wanted. But expecting every kid in school to follow his family's rules around screen use is ludicrous. My kids don't cover their hair or keep kosher just because some of their classmates do, nor would I expect them to follow the rules of my family.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Raise your kids to pay attention in class, people. Or sufficiently so that they get good grades. We're an ADHD family, and even my kid with severe ADHD was able to tear himself away from his phone, listen to his teachers and do the actual work. He graduated with a 4.67 weighted GPA and a dozen APs.

Public schools do a lot for students, but at some point you need to live with system-wide decisions you won't like. Pull yourself together and deal with it.

Your kid doesn’t have severe ADHD.

Anonymous wrote:
Raise your kids to pay attention in class, people. Or sufficiently so that they get good grades. We're an ADHD family, and even my kid with severe ADHD was able to tear himself away from his phone, listen to his teachers and do the actual work. He graduated with a 4.67 weighted GPA and a dozen APs.

Public schools do a lot for students, but at some point you need to live with system-wide decisions you won't like. Pull yourself together and deal with it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SOURCE: https://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-county-new-guidelines-away-all-day-students-use-cell-phones-school-changes-personal-mobile-device-mcps-cellphone-update-elementary-middle-high-instructional-time-lunch-between-classes-maryland-education-crisis-focus-parents-concerns#

MCPS parent Jeremy Joseph sent the following statement to 7News about the new cell phone update:

“Overall, this is a positive step forward at the ES and MS level and a huge step backward for HS.

Explicitly allowing HS students to have phones during lunch and passing periods is totally and completely out of step with how Superintendent Taylor handled this issue last year in Stafford County or what LA County did in February and Baltimore County does and how countries around the world (including Brazil and Denmark) are tackling this issue.

This policy is only going to put MCPS high school students further behind compared to their peers in more forward-thinking municipalities, and only further harm Montgomery County's economic growth as the kids will come out of HS less prepared.

What's most upsetting is that in late March the County promised a robust comment process and engagement in finalizing the updated policy, which did not occur.

Why did they make the decision to allow highschoolers to keep their phones during lunch and passing periods?

We don't know?

How will the phone policy be enforced differently from the prior policy?

We don't know - there is no detail provided.

And they released this policy on a Friday afternoon, which in DC is when you drop something you want to bury.

The new policy would appear to reduce principal discretion to keep phones out of schools during lunch and passing periods, which is the only proven way to reduce the distraction of the phones to improve learning outcomes, reduce fights and bullying, and promote critical face to face interactions and allow kids to make new friends unbound by their online contacts.

At a minimum, the policy should be updated to allow HS principals the discretion to adopt the proven Away All Day policies.

Forcing this lowest common denominator is deeply troubling and counterproductive.

Some principals will have the chutzpah and moral conviction to do what's right, and the policy should not limit their initiative.

But really, the county should simply do what the Superintendent did last year in Stafford County or what LA County did in February and Baltimore County and around the world (including Brazil and Denmark) - keep the phones out of the kids hands from first bell to last bell.

That's what the data shows is the right choice across all relevant metrics: security, academic learning, socio-emotional success and an inclusive school environment, for teacher retention and satisfaction and for budget reasons (20% of each HS class is taken up by policing the phones). There's no data provided that makes this policy the right long-term choice for HS students!

As you know, a group of parents submitted a petition with more than 2,000 signatures supporting Away All Day policies, including in HS.

We have not received any response from MCPS in response to our petition. We are happy to continue engaging with MCPS on these important topics.”

Good effing Lord, when are parents going to understand they're not important stakeholders in public education? They need to stop complaining about every little thing and stay in their lane. This guy sounds like a clown.

I mean, my dude has enough money to live in-bounds for Walt Whitman. He could pay for Washington Waldorf if that's what he wanted. But expecting every kid in school to follow his family's rules around screen use is ludicrous. My kids don't cover their hair or keep kosher just because some of their classmates do, nor would I expect them to follow the rules of my family.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SOURCE: https://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-county-new-guidelines-away-all-day-students-use-cell-phones-school-changes-personal-mobile-device-mcps-cellphone-update-elementary-middle-high-instructional-time-lunch-between-classes-maryland-education-crisis-focus-parents-concerns#

MCPS parent Jeremy Joseph sent the following statement to 7News about the new cell phone update:

“Overall, this is a positive step forward at the ES and MS level and a huge step backward for HS.

Explicitly allowing HS students to have phones during lunch and passing periods is totally and completely out of step with how Superintendent Taylor handled this issue last year in Stafford County or what LA County did in February and Baltimore County does and how countries around the world (including Brazil and Denmark) are tackling this issue.

This policy is only going to put MCPS high school students further behind compared to their peers in more forward-thinking municipalities, and only further harm Montgomery County's economic growth as the kids will come out of HS less prepared.

What's most upsetting is that in late March the County promised a robust comment process and engagement in finalizing the updated policy, which did not occur.

Why did they make the decision to allow highschoolers to keep their phones during lunch and passing periods?

We don't know?

How will the phone policy be enforced differently from the prior policy?

We don't know - there is no detail provided.

And they released this policy on a Friday afternoon, which in DC is when you drop something you want to bury.

The new policy would appear to reduce principal discretion to keep phones out of schools during lunch and passing periods, which is the only proven way to reduce the distraction of the phones to improve learning outcomes, reduce fights and bullying, and promote critical face to face interactions and allow kids to make new friends unbound by their online contacts.

At a minimum, the policy should be updated to allow HS principals the discretion to adopt the proven Away All Day policies.

Forcing this lowest common denominator is deeply troubling and counterproductive.

Some principals will have the chutzpah and moral conviction to do what's right, and the policy should not limit their initiative.

But really, the county should simply do what the Superintendent did last year in Stafford County or what LA County did in February and Baltimore County and around the world (including Brazil and Denmark) - keep the phones out of the kids hands from first bell to last bell.

That's what the data shows is the right choice across all relevant metrics: security, academic learning, socio-emotional success and an inclusive school environment, for teacher retention and satisfaction and for budget reasons (20% of each HS class is taken up by policing the phones). There's no data provided that makes this policy the right long-term choice for HS students!

As you know, a group of parents submitted a petition with more than 2,000 signatures supporting Away All Day policies, including in HS.

We have not received any response from MCPS in response to our petition. We are happy to continue engaging with MCPS on these important topics.”

Good effing Lord, when are parents going to understand they're not important stakeholders in public education? They need to stop complaining about every little thing and stay in their lane. This guy sounds like a clown.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh, I'm the parent of a MS and HS student and this this policy is sane and sensical.

My HS-aged kid having access to their phone at lunch is fine, actually. They can (and do) use it to help with homework, to read sports scores and share with friends, or to facilitate discussion at the meeting of a club.

I think the testimony above assumes the kids are using their phones to SnapChat or something and never look up, but they are actually using them to facilitate socialization, not to shut it down.

Your kid doesn't need a phone at lunch. If it's a true urgent issue, they can go back to their locker and send a message. It puts such a burden on school staff to police phones that are distracting kids from their education. Just make it simple and let the kids go through their school day without additional phone time.

you are out of touch. Kids don't use lockers. Besides taking away their phone doesn't mean they will pay attention. They use their computers all the time for non school related functions. And yes it is a burden on school staff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SOURCE: https://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-county-new-guidelines-away-all-day-students-use-cell-phones-school-changes-personal-mobile-device-mcps-cellphone-update-elementary-middle-high-instructional-time-lunch-between-classes-maryland-education-crisis-focus-parents-concerns#

MCPS parent Jeremy Joseph sent the following statement to 7News about the new cell phone update:

“Overall, this is a positive step forward at the ES and MS level and a huge step backward for HS.

Explicitly allowing HS students to have phones during lunch and passing periods is totally and completely out of step with how Superintendent Taylor handled this issue last year in Stafford County or what LA County did in February and Baltimore County does and how countries around the world (including Brazil and Denmark) are tackling this issue.

This policy is only going to put MCPS high school students further behind compared to their peers in more forward-thinking municipalities, and only further harm Montgomery County's economic growth as the kids will come out of HS less prepared.

What's most upsetting is that in late March the County promised a robust comment process and engagement in finalizing the updated policy, which did not occur.

Why did they make the decision to allow highschoolers to keep their phones during lunch and passing periods?

We don't know?

How will the phone policy be enforced differently from the prior policy?

We don't know - there is no detail provided.

And they released this policy on a Friday afternoon, which in DC is when you drop something you want to bury.

The new policy would appear to reduce principal discretion to keep phones out of schools during lunch and passing periods, which is the only proven way to reduce the distraction of the phones to improve learning outcomes, reduce fights and bullying, and promote critical face to face interactions and allow kids to make new friends unbound by their online contacts.

At a minimum, the policy should be updated to allow HS principals the discretion to adopt the proven Away All Day policies.

Forcing this lowest common denominator is deeply troubling and counterproductive.

Some principals will have the chutzpah and moral conviction to do what's right, and the policy should not limit their initiative.

But really, the county should simply do what the Superintendent did last year in Stafford County or what LA County did in February and Baltimore County and around the world (including Brazil and Denmark) - keep the phones out of the kids hands from first bell to last bell.

That's what the data shows is the right choice across all relevant metrics: security, academic learning, socio-emotional success and an inclusive school environment, for teacher retention and satisfaction and for budget reasons (20% of each HS class is taken up by policing the phones). There's no data provided that makes this policy the right long-term choice for HS students!

As you know, a group of parents submitted a petition with more than 2,000 signatures supporting Away All Day policies, including in HS.

We have not received any response from MCPS in response to our petition. We are happy to continue engaging with MCPS on these important topics.”

Good effing Lord, when are parents going to understand they're not important stakeholders in public education? They need to stop complaining about every little thing and stay in their lane. This guy sounds like a clown.

Anonymous wrote:SOURCE: https://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-county-new-guidelines-away-all-day-students-use-cell-phones-school-changes-personal-mobile-device-mcps-cellphone-update-elementary-middle-high-instructional-time-lunch-between-classes-maryland-education-crisis-focus-parents-concerns#

MCPS parent Jeremy Joseph sent the following statement to 7News about the new cell phone update:

“Overall, this is a positive step forward at the ES and MS level and a huge step backward for HS.

Explicitly allowing HS students to have phones during lunch and passing periods is totally and completely out of step with how Superintendent Taylor handled this issue last year in Stafford County or what LA County did in February and Baltimore County does and how countries around the world (including Brazil and Denmark) are tackling this issue.

This policy is only going to put MCPS high school students further behind compared to their peers in more forward-thinking municipalities, and only further harm Montgomery County's economic growth as the kids will come out of HS less prepared.

What's most upsetting is that in late March the County promised a robust comment process and engagement in finalizing the updated policy, which did not occur.

Why did they make the decision to allow highschoolers to keep their phones during lunch and passing periods?

We don't know?

How will the phone policy be enforced differently from the prior policy?

We don't know - there is no detail provided.

And they released this policy on a Friday afternoon, which in DC is when you drop something you want to bury.

The new policy would appear to reduce principal discretion to keep phones out of schools during lunch and passing periods, which is the only proven way to reduce the distraction of the phones to improve learning outcomes, reduce fights and bullying, and promote critical face to face interactions and allow kids to make new friends unbound by their online contacts.

At a minimum, the policy should be updated to allow HS principals the discretion to adopt the proven Away All Day policies.

Forcing this lowest common denominator is deeply troubling and counterproductive.

Some principals will have the chutzpah and moral conviction to do what's right, and the policy should not limit their initiative.

But really, the county should simply do what the Superintendent did last year in Stafford County or what LA County did in February and Baltimore County and around the world (including Brazil and Denmark) - keep the phones out of the kids hands from first bell to last bell.

That's what the data shows is the right choice across all relevant metrics: security, academic learning, socio-emotional success and an inclusive school environment, for teacher retention and satisfaction and for budget reasons (20% of each HS class is taken up by policing the phones). There's no data provided that makes this policy the right long-term choice for HS students!

As you know, a group of parents submitted a petition with more than 2,000 signatures supporting Away All Day policies, including in HS.

We have not received any response from MCPS in response to our petition. We are happy to continue engaging with MCPS on these important topics.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh, I'm the parent of a MS and HS student and this this policy is sane and sensical.

My HS-aged kid having access to their phone at lunch is fine, actually. They can (and do) use it to help with homework, to read sports scores and share with friends, or to facilitate discussion at the meeting of a club.

I think the testimony above assumes the kids are using their phones to SnapChat or something and never look up, but they are actually using them to facilitate socialization, not to shut it down.

Your kid doesn't need a phone at lunch. If it's a true urgent issue, they can go back to their locker and send a message. It puts such a burden on school staff to police phones that are distracting kids from their education. Just make it simple and let the kids go through their school day without additional phone time.