Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bullis has a cell phone policy but I have heard it isn’t really enforced anymore.

Doesn’t matter what the policy is, if it’s not enforced it’s just lip-service.

Also, kids just do the same things they do on their phones on their laptops (social media and video games all day long).

I feel like kids are on screens all day, with or without cell phone bans.

This is a huge part of the problem with the lack of attention and inability to focus that so many people are commenting on. It’s not just phones and watches that kids are trying to bring into schools — the educational system itself has become way too reliant on screens in classrooms starting at the youngest ages. Everyone concerned about phones in middle schools should be as concerned about chromebooks and ipads in elementary schools.

100% this.

I'm not sure what the right solution is, but schools need to be stricter in the classroom about teaching technology etiquette because it affects the entire classroom. If 80% of kids are distracted during class, the class falls behind and the teacher can't teach at a pace that suits the kids who aren't distracted. Kids aren't engaged in class discussions so classes that were once fun and though-provoking have become dull and boring with only the teacher talking Everyone suffers.

Sometimes laptops and phones will be needed for projects, but when that is not the case, I think phones should be turned-in or remain off, and laptops should be closed and notes taken the old fashioned way. The free-for-all use is clearly not working.

A group of parents banded together in Barcelona to start the movement that got phones banned in schools. It's going to take a lot of effort and we need to start somewhere!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And when your kid goes to college???

Yeah not the right answer people, you failed.

I've also found that giving fentanyl to drug addicts is a good strategy. What are they going to do when they get out of the sober living facility??? They just need to learn self-restraint.

Seriously, though, these devices are highly addictive and the temptation to constantly use them is too much for many adults, let alone children.

Anonymous wrote:And when your kid goes to college???

Yeah not the right answer people, you failed.

I've also found that giving fentanyl to drug addicts is a good strategy. What are they going to do when they get out of the sober living facility??? They just need to learn self-restraint.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish Little Langley would ban phones and iWatches

Agree. Current parent. Feels like device usage is out of control and I wish they’d take a harder look at how it’s affecting behavior and community culture.

+1

Let’s email the heads of schools. Maybe if multiple parents do it, they’ll take a hard look at the policies

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish Little Langley would ban phones and iWatches

Agree. Current parent. Feels like device usage is out of control and I wish they’d take a harder look at how it’s affecting behavior and community culture.

+1

Intrigued to see this initiative in UK where city of St Albans aims to be smartphone free for all children under 14. I wish them luck.

"The letter to parents across the Hertfordshire district was signed by 20 of St Albans' 24 primary school head teachers."

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-69044426

Anonymous wrote:Bullis has a cell phone policy but I have heard it isn’t really enforced anymore.

Doesn’t matter what the policy is, if it’s not enforced it’s just lip-service.

Also, kids just do the same things they do on their phones on their laptops (social media and video games all day long).

I feel like kids are on screens all day, with or without cell phone bans.

This is a huge part of the problem with the lack of attention and inability to focus that so many people are commenting on. It’s not just phones and watches that kids are trying to bring into schools — the educational system itself has become way too reliant on screens in classrooms starting at the youngest ages. Everyone concerned about phones in middle schools should be as concerned about chromebooks and ipads in elementary schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might be one of the few who would not like it if my daughter's high school banned phones. My daughter has had her phone since middle school and it has never been an issue. She has instagram and tiktok on her phone, both which she rarely uses. She doesn't have snap chat. She has never posted on Instagram and doesn't even click on stories. She is a straight A student who basically uses her phone as a tool and for occasional entertainment. During the day I like that she can reach me and vice versa. I think by high school, students need to learn to moderate themselves.

I would add that her middle school did not allow phones past the front desk. She never brought her phone to middle school.

You know, most of us went to school before cell phones and we could still early contact our parents by using a payphone. Not that those are around anymore, but I'm sure your dc's school has a phone they can use.

Just because your kids can’t control their impulses shouldn’t deny my child of access to a valuable tool during the school day.

Just because you're a helicopter parent doesn't mean the school should cater to your wishes. See, I can be nasty, too!

Let me see if I have this right—the parent who wants to completely control not only their own child’s cellphone use but also that of every other student in their high school is calling the person who wants to allow cellphones a helicopter parent?

That’s some real pot meet kettle nonsense right there.

Bullis has a cell phone policy but I have heard it isn’t really enforced anymore.

Doesn’t matter what the policy is, if it’s not enforced it’s just lip-service.

Also, kids just do the same things they do on their phones on their laptops (social media and video games all day long).

I feel like kids are on screens all day, with or without cell phone bans.

Anonymous wrote:I wish Little Langley would ban phones and iWatches

Agree. Current parent. Feels like device usage is out of control and I wish they’d take a harder look at how it’s affecting behavior and community culture.

Kids need tolerant to mange these things themselves.

Our K-8 has a no phones policy and I'm 100% fine with that. Our DC has a "dumb" phone that he can use to communicate with us if an away game is running long or they will be returning from a field trip late. If they need to use the phone at school, they call from the office or the nurse. It's refreshing to pick up DC and see the children TALKING with each other not starring at their screens.

HS is a lot trickier because older DC does use their phone in class for various things--labs, art, etc--but they put their phones in a bin in the front of the classroom for all classes and only use them when specifically directed by the teacher. They do have access to the phones during breaks and lunch and I don't think that's going to change. If the school banned them in HS during normal school hours, I would be supportive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might be one of the few who would not like it if my daughter's high school banned phones. My daughter has had her phone since middle school and it has never been an issue. She has instagram and tiktok on her phone, both which she rarely uses. She doesn't have snap chat. She has never posted on Instagram and doesn't even click on stories. She is a straight A student who basically uses her phone as a tool and for occasional entertainment. During the day I like that she can reach me and vice versa. I think by high school, students need to learn to moderate themselves.

I would add that her middle school did not allow phones past the front desk. She never brought her phone to middle school.

You know, most of us went to school before cell phones and we could still early contact our parents by using a payphone. Not that those are around anymore, but I'm sure your dc's school has a phone they can use.

Just because your kids can’t control their impulses shouldn’t deny my child of access to a valuable tool during the school day.

Just because you're a helicopter parent doesn't mean the school should cater to your wishes. See, I can be nasty, too!

Only ones who are hovering are the ones who want to control access to technology. By high school parents should be hands off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might be one of the few who would not like it if my daughter's high school banned phones. My daughter has had her phone since middle school and it has never been an issue. She has instagram and tiktok on her phone, both which she rarely uses. She doesn't have snap chat. She has never posted on Instagram and doesn't even click on stories. She is a straight A student who basically uses her phone as a tool and for occasional entertainment. During the day I like that she can reach me and vice versa. I think by high school, students need to learn to moderate themselves.

I would add that her middle school did not allow phones past the front desk. She never brought her phone to middle school.

You know, most of us went to school before cell phones and we could still early contact our parents by using a payphone. Not that those are around anymore, but I'm sure your dc's school has a phone they can use.

Just because your kids can’t control their impulses shouldn’t deny my child of access to a valuable tool during the school day.

Just because you're a helicopter parent doesn't mean the school should cater to your wishes. See, I can be nasty, too!