My only hang up is the limited number of unlocking devices. I think each teacher should have one in the classroom, even if there’s rarely a need for it. Also, for middle schools that sometimes have their last period of the day outside (some schools have free blocks or TA blocks), there needs to be a plan to remind kids to unlock (as they may not go back inside before going to the bus and won’t be part of the large group of students that serve as a visual reminder to unlock before leaving). I don’t think it’s whining to address real issues with the program and hopefully APS will make adjustments that make it more palatable for everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No parent that I've spoken to in person is in favor of this pouch nonsense. I sometimes wonder who is on the other side of the screen in here.

It’s a trial between the pouch schools and the no pouch schools. If the students in the no pouch schools can keep their phones away just as well this year APS can go that route.

From what I’m hearing from teachers, the no pouch schools are doing great.

If by doing great you mean the teachers don’t enforce anything, then yes doing great.

No, that's not at all what I mean.

What middle school is your kid at where the phones are away all day no problem? Curious.

High school. There you go. A lot changes between 7th and 12th grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No parent that I've spoken to in person is in favor of this pouch nonsense. I sometimes wonder who is on the other side of the screen in here.

It’s a trial between the pouch schools and the no pouch schools. If the students in the no pouch schools can keep their phones away just as well this year APS can go that route.

From what I’m hearing from teachers, the no pouch schools are doing great.

If by doing great you mean the teachers don’t enforce anything, then yes doing great.

No, that's not at all what I mean.

What middle school is your kid at where the phones are away all day no problem? Curious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sincere question: WHY is APS doing the pouches? Was someone pushing them for this?

It’s laziness or kickbacks

It’s neither, it’s because Fairfax is doing it, and that’s typically enough to get Duran on board with anything. That’s where he came in from, and he seems to think that FFX is best-in-class, or at least the closest comparator to APS. He doesn’t want to stray too far from whatever they do to avoid unfavorable comparisons.

Usually that’s dumb, but in this case it’s right, because the pouches aren’t just a one-off FFX thing, but are being adopted in tons of places and are generally well-received. I’ve read newspaper articles about them going back years.

I thought so too, until I saw that FFX is NOT using the Yondr pouches at HS level. They are using the shoe hangers & kids get their phones back between classes. They are only using Yondr pouches for MS, where phones are already away for the day.

https://www.fcps.edu/cell-phone-storage

Much more reasonable b/c not all ages are the same.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No parent that I've spoken to in person is in favor of this pouch nonsense. I sometimes wonder who is on the other side of the screen in here.

With all due respect, some people are so obnoxious I just nod when they’re talking in an effort to make them stop talking to me.

The pouches are a good idea and everyone will adapt. The helicopter parents who use their child’s possession of a phone to manage their own anxiety need to get a grip. That’s what I would say to you in person if I didn’t have to see you ever again.

Definitely goes both ways. I don't bring up the pouches, but if I ran into one of the people going off about screens and how no kid can be taught self-control, I'd just nod like you are suggesting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No parent that I've spoken to in person is in favor of this pouch nonsense. I sometimes wonder who is on the other side of the screen in here.

It’s a trial between the pouch schools and the no pouch schools. If the students in the no pouch schools can keep their phones away just as well this year APS can go that route.

From what I’m hearing from teachers, the no pouch schools are doing great.

If by doing great you mean the teachers don’t enforce anything, then yes doing great.

No, that's not at all what I mean.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid with ADHD too. I will 100% buy this if his school goes to the pouches and tell him to leave it in all of the time. I’m not worried about my kid using the phone during the day and like others, am more concerned with forgetting to unlock it. Right now there aren’t any teachers forcing collecting but if he has to do a shoe holder or similar we will buy a fake phone for the same reason. Those work kids without ADHD doesn’t understand. It’s not about being addicted or not addicted or a phone. My kid doesn’t care that much about the phone. It’s a safety and forgetful issue.

https://www.amazon.com/Without-Logo-Working-5-4inches-Blackscreen/dp/B09ST5KBBG/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=2O9CTI0PNAQSE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8JIOSVaFslCM0RQm-hgipemqzHgevJBTt4c57iPX38UsfUm6uN6qp7S0p3Zv5UKkgDuj972K8SNaY-098kJgT_r8ZddD-yLJSJO653FXR7A6a30nXM0eJ65oyybEi1ynVNQTb5hEqAnFYMrQ5Siz7gibIActkcLydTp11zdSlZpD30Bvt1iqBUYUmGzwlXM8GiJBB6LTIycRm_Os9urUXw.JKeAYKHJ66_dn3zXdk5yH6ihxqNXTIClg_QH_tBPdQU&dib_tag=se&keywords=dummy+phone&qid=1726780341&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&sprefix=dummy+phone%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-2

Exactly. On day 1, my kid forgot the phone at home but we use it for tracking and said child. misses the bus about once a week and is only 10. (late sept. b'day)

Get your kid a gizmo. And I have a 10 year old. No business with a phone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sincere question: WHY is APS doing the pouches? Was someone pushing them for this?

It’s laziness or kickbacks

It’s neither, it’s because Fairfax is doing it, and that’s typically enough to get Duran on board with anything. That’s where he came in from, and he seems to think that FFX is best-in-class, or at least the closest comparator to APS. He doesn’t want to stray too far from whatever they do to avoid unfavorable comparisons.

Usually that’s dumb, but in this case it’s right, because the pouches aren’t just a one-off FFX thing, but are being adopted in tons of places and are generally well-received. I’ve read newspaper articles about them going back years.

I'm fine with him taking FFX's idea on this issue but some don't translate and why have him if he's going to just copy their policies? That said, he's WAY better than that gym teacher.

Anonymous wrote:No parent that I've spoken to in person is in favor of this pouch nonsense. I sometimes wonder who is on the other side of the screen in here.

1 SHAM who wants to control the world but only gets to house keep.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The shoe holder type holders don't work because kids steal phones out of them.

No phone for the weekend is a great way for your kid to learn to be more responsible.

My kid goes to a private school that uses the shoe holder type things and no phones are stolen. We had back to school night last week and the teachers/admin say they're working well.

You can see how this isn’t relevant at all right?

I think it is. I"m the OP and have one kid in private and this is what they do. It's in the main office so kids can use them during the day, in the main office, in full view of front office staff. Of course this won't work for a big school but it's a reasonable solution if by homeroom, or last class. At our MS, my kids locker is by homeroom so a shoe box type thing in homeroom would work.

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid with ADHD too. I will 100% buy this if his school goes to the pouches and tell him to leave it in all of the time. I’m not worried about my kid using the phone during the day and like others, am more concerned with forgetting to unlock it. Right now there aren’t any teachers forcing collecting but if he has to do a shoe holder or similar we will buy a fake phone for the same reason. Those work kids without ADHD doesn’t understand. It’s not about being addicted or not addicted or a phone. My kid doesn’t care that much about the phone. It’s a safety and forgetful issue.

https://www.amazon.com/Without-Logo-Working-5-4inches-Blackscreen/dp/B09ST5KBBG/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=2O9CTI0PNAQSE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8JIOSVaFslCM0RQm-hgipemqzHgevJBTt4c57iPX38UsfUm6uN6qp7S0p3Zv5UKkgDuj972K8SNaY-098kJgT_r8ZddD-yLJSJO653FXR7A6a30nXM0eJ65oyybEi1ynVNQTb5hEqAnFYMrQ5Siz7gibIActkcLydTp11zdSlZpD30Bvt1iqBUYUmGzwlXM8GiJBB6LTIycRm_Os9urUXw.JKeAYKHJ66_dn3zXdk5yH6ihxqNXTIClg_QH_tBPdQU&dib_tag=se&keywords=dummy+phone&qid=1726780341&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&sprefix=dummy+phone%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-2

Exactly. On day 1, my kid forgot the phone at home but we use it for tracking and said child. misses the bus about once a week and is only 10. (late sept. b'day)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sincere question: WHY is APS doing the pouches? Was someone pushing them for this?

It’s laziness or kickbacks

It’s neither, it’s because Fairfax is doing it, and that’s typically enough to get Duran on board with anything. That’s where he came in from, and he seems to think that FFX is best-in-class, or at least the closest comparator to APS. He doesn’t want to stray too far from whatever they do to avoid unfavorable comparisons.

Usually that’s dumb, but in this case it’s right, because the pouches aren’t just a one-off FFX thing, but are being adopted in tons of places and are generally well-received. I’ve read newspaper articles about them going back years.

I thought so too, until I saw that FFX is NOT using the Yondr pouches at HS level. They are using the shoe hangers & kids get their phones back between classes. They are only using Yondr pouches for MS, where phones are already away for the day.

https://www.fcps.edu/cell-phone-storage

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The shoe holder type holders don't work because kids steal phones out of them.

No phone for the weekend is a great way for your kid to learn to be more responsible.

My kid goes to a private school that uses the shoe holder type things and no phones are stolen. We had back to school night last week and the teachers/admin say they're working well.

You can see how this isn’t relevant at all right?

Anonymous wrote:The shoe holder type holders don't work because kids steal phones out of them.

No phone for the weekend is a great way for your kid to learn to be more responsible.

My kid goes to a private school that uses the shoe holder type things and no phones are stolen. We had back to school night last week and the teachers/admin say they're working well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sincere question: WHY is APS doing the pouches? Was someone pushing them for this?

It’s laziness or kickbacks

It’s neither, it’s because Fairfax is doing it, and that’s typically enough to get Duran on board with anything. That’s where he came in from, and he seems to think that FFX is best-in-class, or at least the closest comparator to APS. He doesn’t want to stray too far from whatever they do to avoid unfavorable comparisons.

Usually that’s dumb, but in this case it’s right, because the pouches aren’t just a one-off FFX thing, but are being adopted in tons of places and are generally well-received. I’ve read newspaper articles about them going back years.

Definitely Duran should not take ideas from other school districts that work. He should spend time coming up with new ideas just for fun to make sure he seems super smart and original.

Please note not one other reasonable suggestion on this thread to manage this issue which doesn’t involve dumping it back on teachers.