The Push to Ban Phones in Schools Accelerates Cybertraps 133

Cybertraps Podcast

• 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 ”