Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 12:10     Subject: Re:Why not phone free
At a K-8 Catholic school and phones are banned during school hours. It's confiscated with the first offense, and then it escalates with future offenses.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 11:48     Subject: Why not phone free
Anonymous wrote:Our private school makes you put your phones away, but the biggest difference that I noticed is that most of the kids in our private school have Apple computers where is the kids at the public schools are given school computers, which are Dells. Having an Apple computer allows you to basically have your phone with you, even when your phone is away. It allows you to text, it can mimic your phone screen, etc..
That is where public schools have the edge honestly


Small handheld devices and watches are still a worse issue than a laptop with iMessage available. A person I know that teaches in a private school says the cell phone ban has been transformative.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 11:08     Subject: Why not phone free
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our private has banned them with great success

My kids are at brother/sister schools. My son’s school banned phones bell to bell, and it’s been great. The HOS at the girl’s school argues that the “research” behind the impact of phones during the day having a negative impact on the girls is flawed.

I have never heard this line of thinking. All of what I've read - and the trend in DMV privates in the past two years - seems to contradict your girl's school HOS. Has the HOS said more to you about this?
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 11:04     Subject: Why not phone free
K-8, phones are 100% banned. That also goes for watches and tablets.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 11:00     Subject: Why not phone free
Our private school makes you put your phones away, but the biggest difference that I noticed is that most of the kids in our private school have Apple computers where is the kids at the public schools are given school computers, which are Dells. Having an Apple computer allows you to basically have your phone with you, even when your phone is away. It allows you to text, it can mimic your phone screen, etc..
That is where public schools have the edge honestly
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 10:38     Subject: Why not phone free
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our private has banned them with great success


My kids are at brother/sister schools. My son’s school banned phones bell to bell, and it’s been great. The HOS at the girl’s school argues that the “research” behind the impact of phones during the day having a negative impact on the girls is flawed.


Wow. Talk about zigging when everyone is zagging. I hope it won’t be long before that head comes to a different conclusion. Educationally, emotionally, socially- it doesn’t take a research study to identify that these mobile devices are a disaster for society.


I'd love to see the research arguing that the phones are somehow beneficial. Probably sponsored by Apple and Samsung...
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 10:14     Subject: Why not phone free
I find it’s the opposite. Public schools might have a strong written policy, but they poorly enforced it. They are limited to what they can do and overlook most things.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 09:53     Subject: Why not phone free
DC’s school has a well-enforced phone ban except by explicit permission/instruction of the teacher - for example, the choir class occasionally has to record themselves during class and submit that for a rep check.

I think many privates have moved to full or partial bans over the last year or two.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 09:51     Subject: Why not phone free
Anonymous wrote:Our Diocesan school is phone free campus bell to bell and has been for years. I had zero sympathy (and in fact delight) when I got an email of an infraction by my DS the other day and his phone taken away until I pick it up at school. hahahah i won't get to the school office for a few days. Love it.


We're also at a school where the parent has to pick up the phone after an infraction. My DC has been told that I will pick it up at my leisure - no rush.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 09:32     Subject: Why not phone free
Our Diocesan school is phone free campus bell to bell and has been for years. I had zero sympathy (and in fact delight) when I got an email of an infraction by my DS the other day and his phone taken away until I pick it up at school. hahahah i won't get to the school office for a few days. Love it.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 08:44     Subject: Why not phone free
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our private has banned them with great success


My kids are at brother/sister schools. My son’s school banned phones bell to bell, and it’s been great. The HOS at the girl’s school argues that the “research” behind the impact of phones during the day having a negative impact on the girls is flawed.


Wow. Talk about zigging when everyone is zagging. I hope it won’t be long before that head comes to a different conclusion. Educationally, emotionally, socially- it doesn’t take a research study to identify that these mobile devices are a disaster for society.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 08:34     Subject: Why not phone free
Anonymous wrote:Our private has banned them with great success


My kids are at brother/sister schools. My son’s school banned phones bell to bell, and it’s been great. The HOS at the girl’s school argues that the “research” behind the impact of phones during the day having a negative impact on the girls is flawed.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 08:20     Subject: Re:Why not phone free
Anonymous wrote:Our private rquires them to be away until the school day is over.


We're at an away-for-the-day school as well. Off and in the locker from bell until bell. If you're found with it, it goes to the office until a parent picks it up.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 08:18     Subject: Why not phone free
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A lot of people seek out private schools precisely because they are NOT like public schools. We now have an increasing divide between haves and have nots, and that is strongly aligning with conservative and liberal in many locations (not quite yet DC). So it makes sense to me in a lot of cities that privates will be all "hands off my phones! let the people decide!" whereas in publics they'll just make a rule.


I can appreciate that cynicism, and I think a few years ago there was a “my phone is my freedom and my right” attitude. And parents were equally determined to feel they could get in touch with their kid whenever they wanted. But in reality, that’s not what’s happening today. Socially, emotionally, and educationally, phones have been horrible for society and certainly for schools, and we are finally seeing private schools lead the way on this, with resounding support from the parent community. My kid is in a 6-12 in DC and the phones are literally locked away, bell to bell, and from what I hear, it’s the best thing in the world. I guess the front office actually takes messages the way they used to in the olden days.


My small private locks up all phones and online devices in a cabinet by the front desk every day. Juniors and seniors can take them off campus at lunch if they want.

Without that policy, kids would not be able to resist getting on them whenever they thought they could get away with it.

Lockup works for everybody.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 07:44     Subject: Why not phone free
Anonymous wrote:A lot of people seek out private schools precisely because they are NOT like public schools. We now have an increasing divide between haves and have nots, and that is strongly aligning with conservative and liberal in many locations (not quite yet DC). So it makes sense to me in a lot of cities that privates will be all "hands off my phones! let the people decide!" whereas in publics they'll just make a rule.


I can appreciate that cynicism, and I think a few years ago there was a “my phone is my freedom and my right” attitude. And parents were equally determined to feel they could get in touch with their kid whenever they wanted. But in reality, that’s not what’s happening today. Socially, emotionally, and educationally, phones have been horrible for society and certainly for schools, and we are finally seeing private schools lead the way on this, with resounding support from the parent community. My kid is in a 6-12 in DC and the phones are literally locked away, bell to bell, and from what I hear, it’s the best thing in the world. I guess the front office actually takes messages the way they used to in the olden days.