Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APE derangement is so insane. Get over it. APS isn't doing this because APE wants it or Youngkin asked schools to do it. Teachers want it, entire countries, and Blue states are banning them. Away for the day is good for kids. Period.

Youngkin wants a total ban. APE wants a total ban. Most teachers and parents not APE want a good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management.

Most kids use phones responsibly, outside of the classroom. The ones who won't shouldn't ruin it for the rest of them.

I guess I need to join APE. I'm a non-APE parent who wants more than a "good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management." I want a ban on cell phone use from beginning bell to ending bell with the appropriate medically NECESSARY exceptions that is ENFORCED consistently from class to class, teacher to teacher, school to school. That means, I want teachers to teach without a student needing a cell phone to complete the work or follow along. That means, I don't want students rushing to check phones and text each other as they're maneuvering through crowded hallways to get to their next classes hopefully on time and not disrupting others' learning by being late or having to wait for them to finish their text and turn off their phone and put it away. That means I want students to develop some real social skills and interact with each other face-to-face during lunch, not through their phones.

+1. Not APE, but fully agree.

+2 Another non-APE, totally agree. Students are missing out on valuable time by spending passing and lunch periods with their heads in their phones. Other than a legitimate medical need, students do NOT need phones at school.

So why not take YOUR kid's phone away? Have you tried that? Why are you expecting this to fall on the rest of us?

Because it's about the entire school culture. Why can't your student interact with classmates without a phone in hand?

My student can and does. Why is a ban required for that? She is already following the rules without issue. If a kid is not, they can be punished under the current rules. Sounds like you are worried about YOUR kid's social skills and you should work on that. Mine is regularly complimented on hers from adults she both does and does not know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APE derangement is so insane. Get over it. APS isn't doing this because APE wants it or Youngkin asked schools to do it. Teachers want it, entire countries, and Blue states are banning them. Away for the day is good for kids. Period.

Youngkin wants a total ban. APE wants a total ban. Most teachers and parents not APE want a good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management.

Most kids use phones responsibly, outside of the classroom. The ones who won't shouldn't ruin it for the rest of them.

I guess I need to join APE. I'm a non-APE parent who wants more than a "good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management." I want a ban on cell phone use from beginning bell to ending bell with the appropriate medically NECESSARY exceptions that is ENFORCED consistently from class to class, teacher to teacher, school to school. That means, I want teachers to teach without a student needing a cell phone to complete the work or follow along. That means, I don't want students rushing to check phones and text each other as they're maneuvering through crowded hallways to get to their next classes hopefully on time and not disrupting others' learning by being late or having to wait for them to finish their text and turn off their phone and put it away. That means I want students to develop some real social skills and interact with each other face-to-face during lunch, not through their phones.

+1. Not APE, but fully agree.

+2 Another non-APE, totally agree. Students are missing out on valuable time by spending passing and lunch periods with their heads in their phones. Other than a legitimate medical need, students do NOT need phones at school.

So why not take YOUR kid's phone away? Have you tried that? Why are you expecting this to fall on the rest of us?

Because it's about the entire school culture. Why can't your student interact with classmates without a phone in hand?

My student can and does. Why is a ban required for that? She is already following the rules without issue. If a kid is not, they can be punished under the current rules. Sounds like you are worried about YOUR kid's social skills and you should work on that. Mine is regularly complimented on hers from adults she both does and does not know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APE derangement is so insane. Get over it. APS isn't doing this because APE wants it or Youngkin asked schools to do it. Teachers want it, entire countries, and Blue states are banning them. Away for the day is good for kids. Period.

Youngkin wants a total ban. APE wants a total ban. Most teachers and parents not APE want a good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management.

Most kids use phones responsibly, outside of the classroom. The ones who won't shouldn't ruin it for the rest of them.

I guess I need to join APE. I'm a non-APE parent who wants more than a "good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management." I want a ban on cell phone use from beginning bell to ending bell with the appropriate medically NECESSARY exceptions that is ENFORCED consistently from class to class, teacher to teacher, school to school. That means, I want teachers to teach without a student needing a cell phone to complete the work or follow along. That means, I don't want students rushing to check phones and text each other as they're maneuvering through crowded hallways to get to their next classes hopefully on time and not disrupting others' learning by being late or having to wait for them to finish their text and turn off their phone and put it away. That means I want students to develop some real social skills and interact with each other face-to-face during lunch, not through their phones.

+1. Not APE, but fully agree.

+2 Another non-APE, totally agree. Students are missing out on valuable time by spending passing and lunch periods with their heads in their phones. Other than a legitimate medical need, students do NOT need phones at school.

So why not take YOUR kid's phone away? Have you tried that? Why are you expecting this to fall on the rest of us?

Because it's about the entire school culture. Why can't your student interact with classmates without a phone in hand?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APE derangement is so insane. Get over it. APS isn't doing this because APE wants it or Youngkin asked schools to do it. Teachers want it, entire countries, and Blue states are banning them. Away for the day is good for kids. Period.

Youngkin wants a total ban. APE wants a total ban. Most teachers and parents not APE want a good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management.

Most kids use phones responsibly, outside of the classroom. The ones who won't shouldn't ruin it for the rest of them.

I guess I need to join APE. I'm a non-APE parent who wants more than a "good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management." I want a ban on cell phone use from beginning bell to ending bell with the appropriate medically NECESSARY exceptions that is ENFORCED consistently from class to class, teacher to teacher, school to school. That means, I want teachers to teach without a student needing a cell phone to complete the work or follow along. That means, I don't want students rushing to check phones and text each other as they're maneuvering through crowded hallways to get to their next classes hopefully on time and not disrupting others' learning by being late or having to wait for them to finish their text and turn off their phone and put it away. That means I want students to develop some real social skills and interact with each other face-to-face during lunch, not through their phones.

+1. Not APE, but fully agree.

+2 Another non-APE, totally agree. Students are missing out on valuable time by spending passing and lunch periods with their heads in their phones. Other than a legitimate medical need, students do NOT need phones at school.

So why not take YOUR kid's phone away? Have you tried that? Why are you expecting this to fall on the rest of us?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APE derangement is so insane. Get over it. APS isn't doing this because APE wants it or Youngkin asked schools to do it. Teachers want it, entire countries, and Blue states are banning them. Away for the day is good for kids. Period.

Youngkin wants a total ban. APE wants a total ban. Most teachers and parents not APE want a good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management.

Most kids use phones responsibly, outside of the classroom. The ones who won't shouldn't ruin it for the rest of them.

I guess I need to join APE. I'm a non-APE parent who wants more than a "good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management." I want a ban on cell phone use from beginning bell to ending bell with the appropriate medically NECESSARY exceptions that is ENFORCED consistently from class to class, teacher to teacher, school to school. That means, I want teachers to teach without a student needing a cell phone to complete the work or follow along. That means, I don't want students rushing to check phones and text each other as they're maneuvering through crowded hallways to get to their next classes hopefully on time and not disrupting others' learning by being late or having to wait for them to finish their text and turn off their phone and put it away. That means I want students to develop some real social skills and interact with each other face-to-face during lunch, not through their phones.

+1. Not APE, but fully agree.

+2 Another non-APE, totally agree. Students are missing out on valuable time by spending passing and lunch periods with their heads in their phones. Other than a legitimate medical need, students do NOT need phones at school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Must everything on this forum involve APE?? Some of you are obsessed. Go back to your echo chamber.

Can APE disappear then? I’m tired of them sucking up all of the air and inserting themselves into every conversation regarding APS.

They seem to only be sucking up your air.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APE derangement is so insane. Get over it. APS isn't doing this because APE wants it or Youngkin asked schools to do it. Teachers want it, entire countries, and Blue states are banning them. Away for the day is good for kids. Period.

Youngkin wants a total ban. APE wants a total ban. Most teachers and parents not APE want a good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management.

Most kids use phones responsibly, outside of the classroom. The ones who won't shouldn't ruin it for the rest of them.

I guess I need to join APE. I'm a non-APE parent who wants more than a "good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management." I want a ban on cell phone use from beginning bell to ending bell with the appropriate medically NECESSARY exceptions that is ENFORCED consistently from class to class, teacher to teacher, school to school. That means, I want teachers to teach without a student needing a cell phone to complete the work or follow along. That means, I don't want students rushing to check phones and text each other as they're maneuvering through crowded hallways to get to their next classes hopefully on time and not disrupting others' learning by being late or having to wait for them to finish their text and turn off their phone and put it away. That means I want students to develop some real social skills and interact with each other face-to-face during lunch, not through their phones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APE derangement is so insane. Get over it. APS isn't doing this because APE wants it or Youngkin asked schools to do it. Teachers want it, entire countries, and Blue states are banning them. Away for the day is good for kids. Period.

Youngkin wants a total ban. APE wants a total ban. Most teachers and parents not APE want a good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management.

Most kids use phones responsibly, outside of the classroom. The ones who won't shouldn't ruin it for the rest of them.

I guess I need to join APE. I'm a non-APE parent who wants more than a "good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management." I want a ban on cell phone use from beginning bell to ending bell with the appropriate medically NECESSARY exceptions that is ENFORCED consistently from class to class, teacher to teacher, school to school. That means, I want teachers to teach without a student needing a cell phone to complete the work or follow along. That means, I don't want students rushing to check phones and text each other as they're maneuvering through crowded hallways to get to their next classes hopefully on time and not disrupting others' learning by being late or having to wait for them to finish their text and turn off their phone and put it away. That means I want students to develop some real social skills and interact with each other face-to-face during lunch, not through their phones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People need to read the APS PIP and stop hyperventilating.

It allows for phones to be used for classwork.

MS is away for the day. Wearable devices allowed if smart features are turned off.

HS is away for instructional periods. Wearables allowed if smart features are turned off.

Accommodations and medical need addressed. Devices can be used in an emergency.

Right but that's just the rule for now. It's not the permanent rule and you have APE lobbying for an extreme ban where even HS kids would need to have all devices locked up for the whole day and they could never be used for classwork or in an emergency. Or did you not know this???

No. People are acting right now as if there is an extreme ban. The PIP is reasonable and overdue. Teachers need a something to point to for enforcement. Parents need to point to something to for flexibility. Students need to understand what’s acceptable use and what’s not. The PIP sets expectations for everyone.

I do not care what APE is advocating for and since when did APS listen to them?

Not that poster, but to clarify, that won’t be the rules for students at Wakefield in a couple of weeks when their phones are locked in pouches all day (meanwhile, the other HS kids could use phones at lunch, etc). I agree that phones are a huge distraction, but I think there are better (& cheaper) ways to address this than magnetic pouches.

What alternatives do you suggest?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APE derangement is so insane. Get over it. APS isn't doing this because APE wants it or Youngkin asked schools to do it. Teachers want it, entire countries, and Blue states are banning them. Away for the day is good for kids. Period.

Youngkin wants a total ban. APE wants a total ban. Most teachers and parents not APE want a good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management.

Most kids use phones responsibly, outside of the classroom. The ones who won't shouldn't ruin it for the rest of them.

I guess I need to join APE. I'm a non-APE parent who wants more than a "good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management." I want a ban on cell phone use from beginning bell to ending bell with the appropriate medically NECESSARY exceptions that is ENFORCED consistently from class to class, teacher to teacher, school to school. That means, I want teachers to teach without a student needing a cell phone to complete the work or follow along. That means, I don't want students rushing to check phones and text each other as they're maneuvering through crowded hallways to get to their next classes hopefully on time and not disrupting others' learning by being late or having to wait for them to finish their text and turn off their phone and put it away. That means I want students to develop some real social skills and interact with each other face-to-face during lunch, not through their phones.

+1. Not APE, but fully agree.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So we are middle schoolers but what happens in high school? Do teachers take phones from someone watching a video with airbuds or quietly texting? Obviously loud disruptions would be handled but what happens for more subtle “note passing” style of phone use?

We are in LCPS but it currently depends on both the teacher and also the student. A good student with A’s and completed work watching Netflix with airbuds at the end of class is going to be ignored by most teachers.

Disagree. We are ALL in as a staff now that we finally have a policy that supports this. Before we couldn’t enforce and had no county policy to to reference for doing so- now we do. We’ve been waiting years for this. I had every single kid in every class today put theirs in a numbered pouch that matched the number on their desk so I know exactly who didn’t put their phone up if someone tries to claim they didn’t didn’t. Every kid did. The pouch is in a place up by me that they can’t go by or access when they’re walking out to leave for the bathroom. I will give ZERO leeway on this even though I know in week 2-3 the pushback will start and we will have to reset the expectation after breaks.

Everyone is in on this, we had a 90 minute staff meeting about it and how to enforce it consistently. The only teachers who won’t are the dodos with no classroom management who will let a kid say “I don’t have a phone” and get away with it (which one tried today and I said “yes you do now get it up there” and he caved). They will continue fighting the unwinnable phone battle but the ones who are consistent and hold the line will finally have a policy to enforce it and consequence if not. MOST of us are not going to just “let Netflix slide” and then give every other kid an open pass to also flout the rule and have their phone.

clearly you are not in APS, which is what OP asked about

Do you expect different attitude from APS teachers?

I have no idea, I assume that's why the question was asked SPECIFIC to APS.

Some of the APS parents are insisting their kids have their cell phones. Apparently, their kids will fall apart without them.

Well some kids actually will, but it's clear you don't care.

I care about the state of America’s youth. Take the phone away now or you’ll be paying the bill forever.

+1 the kids who are overwhelmed with anxiety at not having their phone accessible every minute are the kids who most need school to be phone-free. Obviously they need support to get through the transition and should be getting mental health care but letting anxiety rule by finding work arounds so some kids can have phones is not a long term solution for improving mental health.

And no kid needs to be watching Netflix at school when they finish work. If there's down time they can read, just like we did before smart phones.

+2
And most likely, their parents need some therapy for anxiety as well. I don't want their kid's phone to bring attention to my kid's classroom during a mass shooter event, or a bunch of phones tying up communication lines like 9/11. But mostly, I want kids to learn how to go through a school day/work day without checking their phone every 5 minutes and learning to have dinner out with friends or family without answering texts and phone calls from others, and I want them to LEARN period - that's why they're in school in the first place.

+3
The parent who posted on AEM re: their child having an emergency meeting with their therapist because they were so worried about the possibility of not having access to their phone in an emergency. Ugh. Meeting with the therapist is the right place for that child to work that out--and I don't mean that in an anxiety or mental health bashing way.

Americans are obsessed with the idea that we can create or manufacture safety. My personal opinion is that we've ended up this way because we enjoy relative safety in the U.S. aside from our gun issues, which is a whole other debate and rabbit hole. But it has lead to a generation of Americans who panic and cannot handle any situation that causes them discomfort. I felt the same way during COVID--people couldn't control the virus or the way that their neighbor/city/county/state/country responded to it and freaked out--on both ends of the spectrums. We've lost the ability to tolerate risk and discomfort.

If there is an active shooter situation at my child's school of course I would want to be in touch with them, but, would being in touch with them change the outcome of the active shooter situation? No. Of course not. Communicating with your child by phone will not save their life--back to the gun debate....

Kids and parents can save any necessary messaging for outside of school hours. If a child needs an accommodation, fine, but, otherwise, phones should be away. There is no need.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APE derangement is so insane. Get over it. APS isn't doing this because APE wants it or Youngkin asked schools to do it. Teachers want it, entire countries, and Blue states are banning them. Away for the day is good for kids. Period.

Youngkin wants a total ban. APE wants a total ban. Most teachers and parents not APE want a good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management.

Most kids use phones responsibly, outside of the classroom. The ones who won't shouldn't ruin it for the rest of them.

I guess I need to join APE. I'm a non-APE parent who wants more than a "good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management." I want a ban on cell phone use from beginning bell to ending bell with the appropriate medically NECESSARY exceptions that is ENFORCED consistently from class to class, teacher to teacher, school to school. That means, I want teachers to teach without a student needing a cell phone to complete the work or follow along. That means, I don't want students rushing to check phones and text each other as they're maneuvering through crowded hallways to get to their next classes hopefully on time and not disrupting others' learning by being late or having to wait for them to finish their text and turn off their phone and put it away. That means I want students to develop some real social skills and interact with each other face-to-face during lunch, not through their phones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So we are middle schoolers but what happens in high school? Do teachers take phones from someone watching a video with airbuds or quietly texting? Obviously loud disruptions would be handled but what happens for more subtle “note passing” style of phone use?

We are in LCPS but it currently depends on both the teacher and also the student. A good student with A’s and completed work watching Netflix with airbuds at the end of class is going to be ignored by most teachers.

Disagree. We are ALL in as a staff now that we finally have a policy that supports this. Before we couldn’t enforce and had no county policy to to reference for doing so- now we do. We’ve been waiting years for this. I had every single kid in every class today put theirs in a numbered pouch that matched the number on their desk so I know exactly who didn’t put their phone up if someone tries to claim they didn’t didn’t. Every kid did. The pouch is in a place up by me that they can’t go by or access when they’re walking out to leave for the bathroom. I will give ZERO leeway on this even though I know in week 2-3 the pushback will start and we will have to reset the expectation after breaks.

Everyone is in on this, we had a 90 minute staff meeting about it and how to enforce it consistently. The only teachers who won’t are the dodos with no classroom management who will let a kid say “I don’t have a phone” and get away with it (which one tried today and I said “yes you do now get it up there” and he caved). They will continue fighting the unwinnable phone battle but the ones who are consistent and hold the line will finally have a policy to enforce it and consequence if not. MOST of us are not going to just “let Netflix slide” and then give every other kid an open pass to also flout the rule and have their phone.

clearly you are not in APS, which is what OP asked about

Do you expect different attitude from APS teachers?

I have no idea, I assume that's why the question was asked SPECIFIC to APS.

Some of the APS parents are insisting their kids have their cell phones. Apparently, their kids will fall apart without them.

Well some kids actually will, but it's clear you don't care.

I care about the state of America’s youth. Take the phone away now or you’ll be paying the bill forever.

+1 the kids who are overwhelmed with anxiety at not having their phone accessible every minute are the kids who most need school to be phone-free. Obviously they need support to get through the transition and should be getting mental health care but letting anxiety rule by finding work arounds so some kids can have phones is not a long term solution for improving mental health.

And no kid needs to be watching Netflix at school when they finish work. If there's down time they can read, just like we did before smart phones.

+2
And most likely, their parents need some therapy for anxiety as well. I don't want their kid's phone to bring attention to my kid's classroom during a mass shooter event, or a bunch of phones tying up communication lines like 9/11. But mostly, I want kids to learn how to go through a school day/work day without checking their phone every 5 minutes and learning to have dinner out with friends or family without answering texts and phone calls from others, and I want them to LEARN period - that's why they're in school in the first place.

+3
The parent who posted on AEM re: their child having an emergency meeting with their therapist because they were so worried about the possibility of not having access to their phone in an emergency. Ugh. Meeting with the therapist is the right place for that child to work that out--and I don't mean that in an anxiety or mental health bashing way.

Americans are obsessed with the idea that we can create or manufacture safety. My personal opinion is that we've ended up this way because we enjoy relative safety in the U.S. aside from our gun issues, which is a whole other debate and rabbit hole. But it has lead to a generation of Americans who panic and cannot handle any situation that causes them discomfort. I felt the same way during COVID--people couldn't control the virus or the way that their neighbor/city/county/state/country responded to it and freaked out--on both ends of the spectrums. We've lost the ability to tolerate risk and discomfort.

If there is an active shooter situation at my child's school of course I would want to be in touch with them, but, would being in touch with them change the outcome of the active shooter situation? No. Of course not. Communicating with your child by phone will not save their life--back to the gun debate....

Kids and parents can save any necessary messaging for outside of school hours. If a child needs an accommodation, fine, but, otherwise, phones should be away. There is no need.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APE derangement is so insane. Get over it. APS isn't doing this because APE wants it or Youngkin asked schools to do it. Teachers want it, entire countries, and Blue states are banning them. Away for the day is good for kids. Period.

Youngkin wants a total ban. APE wants a total ban. Most teachers and parents not APE want a good thought out policy that will disallow phones during instructional time minus those who need it for health management.

Most kids use phones responsibly, outside of the classroom. The ones who won't shouldn't ruin it for the rest of them.