The Push to Ban Phones in Schools Accelerates Cybertraps 133
/39:09/S1:E133
News Item – The Boston Globe Publishes an Editorial Urging Schools to Prohibit Student Phone Use at School “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/22/opinion/sorry-kids-no-more-phones-school/” Overarching Questions / Issues This is a global issue 2022/2023 freshman are the iGen – born after introduction of iPhone in 2007 (!) Is this part of a move to de-emphasize screens in education generally? Will strict private schools scare away tech-savvy students? Justifications Distraction / Loss of Focus On average, kids unlock their phones 50 times each day Impact on Grades Many educators report improved performance when access to devices is restricted Post-Pandemic Need for Non-Phone Socialization Kids who engage more face-to-face are generally happier Less spontaneity and real-world creativity Teaching self-control should be part of school’s social-emotional curriculum “I think great ideas come from boredom.” – John Kalapos, Buxton history teacher and tech committee chair Methods Complete on-campus bans – no smartphones at all Partial bans – students allowed to use phones between classes and at lunch Lockbags / Pouches In some schools, teachers and administrators have a tool for unlocking containers Other schools have unlocking magnets at each exit; kids tap the bag on the magnet as they leave Partnership with Yondr [ https://www.overyondr.com/ ] Originally founded in 2014 to limit use of phones in music venues Cabinets (“Cellphone Hotels”) / Lockers / Hanging Shoe Organizers Some schools permit “dumb” phones and the use of laptops to access the internet One private school is promoting the Light Phone [ https://www.thelightphone.com/ ] Teachers encouraged to model good behavior by observing school bans Objections and Concerns Parents want to be able to contact their children In 2015, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio abandoned a policy against phones in schools Kids are NOT enthusiastic Protests and fire alarms pulled at Torrington High School in Feb. 2022 Kids ignore school policies (as many as 2/3 disregard bans, according to a national survey) Efforts to police bans may also be damaging to learning and student mental health For some students, a phone may be their only technology Concerns over security of devices during the day Some teachers and school board members want to have schools incorporate phones (and especially social media) into curricula Schools need to upgrade phone systems to make it possible for parents to reach children Schools need a plan for digital withdrawal; phones, apps, and social media designed to be addictive American Academy of Pediatrics dropped screen time limits for kids 5 and older because the impact of screen time varied based on the personality and circumstances of each kid Resources - #2022–08–22 Sorry, kids, no more phones in school “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/22/opinion/sorry-kids-no-more-phones-school/” - #2022–08–21 Boston high school teacher wants city to implement smartphone ban “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/21/opinion/boston-high-school-teacher-wants-city-implement-smartphone-ban/” - #2022–08–18 “They don’t interact with each other.” The growing movement to ban phones in high schools. “https://www.mamamia.com.au/mobile-phone-ban-australia/” - #2022–08–15 Utah middle school bans phones from entire school day “https://kslnewsradio.com/1973508/utah-middle-school-bans-phones-from-entire-school-day/” - #2022–08–14 High school phone ban ‘more urgent than ever’ amid pressure on teens “https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/high-school-phone-ban-more-urgent-than-ever-amid-pressure-on-teens–20220809-p5b8dp.html” - #2022–08–13 Some Mass. high schools adopt strict cellphone-free policies this school year “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/13/metro/mass-high-schools-adopt-strict-cellphone-free-policies-this-school-year/ ” - #2022–07–16 A boarding school in the Berkshires is banning smartphones for students and teachers “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/16/business/boarding-school-berkshires-is-banning-smartphones-students-teachers/ ” - #2022–05–09 Chicopee High principal says cell phone locking has resulted in better student performance “https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/05/chicopee-high-principal-says-cell-phone-locking-has-resulted-in-better-student-performance.html” - #2022–02–25 Police respond as high school students protest phone policy “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/25/metro/police-respond-high-school-students-protest-phone-policy/ ” - #2018–06–01 How one local high school teacher got his students to actually put away their phones “https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2018/06/01/students-check-their-devices-cellphone-hotel/LuoA4LUJ807R0t5BsVnKTL/story.html ”
News Item – The Boston Globe Publishes an Editorial Urging Schools to Prohibit Student Phone Use at School “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/22/opinion/sorry-kids-no-more-phones-school/”
Overarching Questions / Issues
This is a global issue
2022/2023 freshman are the iGen – born after introduction of iPhone in 2007 (!)
Is this part of a move to de-emphasize screens in education generally?
Will strict private schools scare away tech-savvy students?
Justifications
Distraction / Loss of Focus
On average, kids unlock their phones 50 times each day
Impact on Grades
Many educators report improved performance when access to devices is restricted
Post-Pandemic Need for Non-Phone Socialization
Kids who engage more face-to-face are generally happier
Less spontaneity and real-world creativity
Teaching self-control should be part of school’s social-emotional curriculum
“I think great ideas come from boredom.” – John Kalapos, Buxton history teacher and tech committee chair
Methods
Complete on-campus bans – no smartphones at all
Partial bans – students allowed to use phones between classes and at lunch
Lockbags / Pouches
In some schools, teachers and administrators have a tool for unlocking containers
Other schools have unlocking magnets at each exit; kids tap the bag on the magnet as they leave
Partnership with Yondr [ https://www.overyondr.com/ ]
Originally founded in 2014 to limit use of phones in music venues
Some schools permit “dumb” phones and the use of laptops to access the internet
One private school is promoting the Light Phone [ https://www.thelightphone.com/ ]
Teachers encouraged to model good behavior by observing school bans
Objections and Concerns
Parents want to be able to contact their children
In 2015, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio abandoned a policy against phones in schools
Kids are NOT enthusiastic
Protests and fire alarms pulled at Torrington High School in Feb. 2022
Kids ignore school policies (as many as 2/3 disregard bans, according to a national survey)
Efforts to police bans may also be damaging to learning and student mental health
For some students, a phone may be their only technology
Concerns over security of devices during the day
Some teachers and school board members want to have schools incorporate phones (and especially social media) into curricula
Schools need to upgrade phone systems to make it possible for parents to reach children
Schools need a plan for digital withdrawal; phones, apps, and social media designed to be addictive
American Academy of Pediatrics dropped screen time limits for kids 5 and older because the impact of screen time varied based on the personality and circumstances of each kid
Resources
- #2022–08–22 Sorry, kids, no more phones in school “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/22/opinion/sorry-kids-no-more-phones-school/” - #2022–08–21 Boston high school teacher wants city to implement smartphone ban “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/21/opinion/boston-high-school-teacher-wants-city-implement-smartphone-ban/” - #2022–08–18 “They don’t interact with each other.” The growing movement to ban phones in high schools. “https://www.mamamia.com.au/mobile-phone-ban-australia/” - #2022–08–15 Utah middle school bans phones from entire school day “https://kslnewsradio.com/1973508/utah-middle-school-bans-phones-from-entire-school-day/” - #2022–08–14 High school phone ban ‘more urgent than ever’ amid pressure on teens “https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/high-school-phone-ban-more-urgent-than-ever-amid-pressure-on-teens–20220809-p5b8dp.html” - #2022–08–13 Some Mass. high schools adopt strict cellphone-free policies this school year “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/13/metro/mass-high-schools-adopt-strict-cellphone-free-policies-this-school-year/ ” - #2022–07–16 A boarding school in the Berkshires is banning smartphones for students and teachers “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/16/business/boarding-school-berkshires-is-banning-smartphones-students-teachers/ ” - #2022–05–09 Chicopee High principal says cell phone locking has resulted in better student performance “https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/05/chicopee-high-principal-says-cell-phone-locking-has-resulted-in-better-student-performance.html” - #2022–02–25 Police respond as high school students protest phone policy “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/25/metro/police-respond-high-school-students-protest-phone-policy/ ” - #2018–06–01 How one local high school teacher got his students to actually put away their phones “https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2018/06/01/students-check-their-devices-cellphone-hotel/LuoA4LUJ807R0t5BsVnKTL/story.html ”
We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.
IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.
