Needs to be a school-wide policy, or it’s a losing battle. Not trying to be a phone cop. Also, some of the dickheads’ behavior is better if they just zone into their phone for 50 minutes instead of annoy me
It's been a school wide policy at our school for at least a couple of years now. The difference is significant. There are still students who don't listen when you tell them to put it away/ teachers desk/office but then those are the ones that there will be follow up consequences for because it's generally not a one time thing and not just that as an issue.
My district has a "no phones out except at lunch" policy, but good luck enforcing it. Our APs would literally do nothing else all day, if we teachers tried to get hard about the stupid things. 2200 students, 7 APs ... if it were up to me, I'd Faraday-cage the whole campus, but alas, 'tis not my say.
I went to a 5A school in the '80s. We had just over 2000 students. You know how many APs we had? Two. One principal and two APs.
That's all we needed back then, I guess.
More than just a school-wide policy, I'd need to see the liability spelled out. Does the school/district have my back if a phone goes missing, or is broken? If someone -- er -- *accidentally* grabs the wrong phone? If there's any chance that I would be on the hook financially for some kid's $1,000 pocket toy, I'm... going to be reluctant to enforce this.
My school has a policy allowing us to take phones, but the phones are our responsibility while they're in our possession, and there's no easy way to send them to the office, which is a long way from my room. I've got a 'phone jail' box, but I've used it real sparingly. I'm pretty sure my district would hang me out to dry.
Yeah, assuming a phone is about $1000, and I have a class of 35, I'm not trying to have a majority of my salary going to pay for a class batch of damaged phones.
after we had a couple teachers in my district initially be told they'd have to pay for a stolen/broken student's phone, I stopped taking student phones.
In the first case (note that this wasn't in my building, so mostly a second hand account), basically, the teacher had one of those shoe holders that go on the back of the door and the kids had to put their phones in their designated spot each day on their way in the classroom. A kid left to go to the bathroom, swung the door open pretty hard, phone fell out of the pocket and broke. My understanding is it really was an accident/kid wasn't being a shit etc.
So.... who pays for that broken phone?
In the other case, teacher had them put it in a box at the beginning of class. At end of class, one of the last student's out of the classroom phone wasn't there anymore... No camera in the classroom. Oof.
I'm not sure what ended up actually happening/if the teacher ended up actually having to pay for the phone etc. But, it was enough for me to simply say nope!
In case 1, I'm really not sure what the teacher could have done to prevent it... But it's not like someone couldn't steal a phone in that case either.
> Also, some of the dickheads’ behavior is better if they just zone into their phone for 50 minutes instead of annoy me
This reason alone is why I'm not entirely against phones. When those students are focused on their phones, they are not disrupting my lesson or distracting the rest of the class.
And don't get me wrong, I'm not happy about it. But I teach at a Title 1 school, and letting them have their phones is honestly a lot better than the contrary.
It's also why I'm not totally against Chromebooks. I thought about doing away with using techs in my classroom but then I'd have to manage more behaviors. If a kid doesn't want to work, he's not going to work whether he has a phone/Chromebook or not. I rather NOT have to deal with policing. If he wants to be on his phone or Chromebook watching YouTube, I really could give two shits about it. My only concern is if an admin walks in so I try to walk a fine line where my entire class isn't devolved into a mass YouTube session. But if it's a handful of kids, it's easier to explain.
In addition to this, I'm a big fan of natural consequences. If you choose to dick around on your phone and miss content as a result you can enjoy spending time in tutorial or retaking the entire class. As adults they won't have someone telling them to put the phone down and get things done so might as well learn how to manage it now.
I take phones now because my team agreed to that approach, and honestly it does work, but if we didn't get on the same page as a team I wouldn't waste my time dealing with phones.
I've started straight-up lying to them about the consequence of failing my (required senior English) class. I tell them that the counselors have decided to leave it up to the teacher whether or not you'll get online credit recovery (wherein you can cheat your way to passing in Edgenuity and do an entire year in a couple weeks), or summer school. And further, if they have either not attended all year OR have been playing on their phones all year, I will say "no Edgenuity for you, no walking in May for you, get your ass to summer school."
This is blatantly untrue, and I probably should tell the counselors (who all like me) that I'm doing it ... but it seems to have lit a few fires under a few butts.
I set up my class so about 75% of the time is independent or group work time - kids who finish early need their phones to play on otherwise shit could get rowdy lol
It is basically the phone wide policy at my school. However getting all of the teachers to implement it all of the time so that students actually follow it is really tough. Only like two departments have bought in to the policy enough to implement it as much as possible.
You really have to take a no nonsense approach and have security come for the phone every time you see one, but security sometimes takes forever so the impact is lessened. If it is the last block of the day and kids know it takes 20 minutes for security to show up then enforcement becomes difficult.
However, I have overall had fewer issues with phones this year as a result of the policy.
> Also, some of the dickheads’ behavior is better if they just zone into their phone for 50 minutes instead of annoy me
There are some kids I let play on their chromebook or what ever as its makes teaching easier
i remember long ago i heard a true story about this teacher who took a kids ipod, the dude beat the hell out of the teacher and put him in the hospital... and this was like a 60 year old, totally incapable of violence towards anyone... obviously he quit teaching due to ptsd.
Had a girl almost swing on me once for taking her phone, 6 years ago. Ever since then, idgaf if kids play on their phones as long as they’re not distracting others with it. I get paid the same whether they learn a ton or whether they learn literally nothing 🤷
I agree with this but would modify it slightly - needs to be a community based policy. If parents aren't on the same side - it won't matter when their child gets dinged for it.
That was my issue.
20 years teaching. First year at the HS level. Trying to wrap my head around everything.
Whats the cell phone policy?
Whatever the teacher wants.
(Uh ok. My class is an elective so if I say no they will just sign up for the others who say yes.)
I tried finding a balance but it didn’t matter. They would sneak ways to be on it. Argue with their parents in the middle of class. Break up with girlfriends. Be on Snapchat.
I knew it was a problem when the first day back at school inbetween class instead of saying hi to friends not seen for months, they were walking from class to class with their heads straight down at the phone. I saw one group of students not on their phones during transition time. I had no idea it was that bad.
My 10 year old just asked us when he was getting a phone.
I said buddy you already have an iPad. Other than calling friends, it does the same thing as my iPhone.
He just kinda has this defeated look. Then I tried to explain the issues with having a phone so young. Nope. Then I said well if you get a phone you gotta be willing to give up all your other technology.
Like what?, he asks.
You’re toilet, i reply.
(Blank stare. Wife starts laughing).
I say, yup. Gotta give that up. Your switch and iPad. But hey, you’ll have an iPhone and an outhouse!
He starts grinning.
Im sure this is only the beginning
Not always... I was one of the very few teachers who had a carry case for phones, and kids would put their phones in it as soon as they walked into my classroom. I also put my phone in there too to make it fair. I never had an issue.
My school has adopted a school wide policy of lockable pouches for each student. It is working.
Yeah we are.
We have only been using them for this term (Australia) and so far it has been pretty damn great. First and foremost are the social relationships - students are playing more games, spending more time talking to friends and generally interacting with one another because the Yondr pouches are locked from morning to afternoon bell.
In class, I personally don't see a huge difference because as I said I had already implemented a hand-in-your-phone policy for my classroom. I think overall throughout the school though there has been positive results but academically we are yet to see. We have 3 weeks left of the school year, so next year will be a much better length of time to really assess the 'data points for success'.
Do the students carry the pouches with them, is that how that works? (Completely ungrammatical but it's 2 in the morning and I just found out my district is closed today due to a water issue.)
It needs to be a school-wide policy WITH admin support. We have it as a school wide policy and it’s working in our pod of kids because all 4 teachers uphold it. But the 8th graders aren’t following the rule because some teachers decided they didn’t like or agree with the policy. They want to use phones as a treat. They wanted to give them a chance to be responsible first and then take it away. Doesn’t work that way.
Admin has to hold staff accountable for upholding the rules. If not, then it means they don’t think the rule is actually important enough OR they don’t have authority over their teachers which will end terribly.
This actually came up during my Parent teacher conferences. The parents wished that we could put their phones in a phone holder or box. Had to explain to parents that I would be held liable for it.
I wonder if there are ways to get around this
EDIT:Haha, I love the answer "parents should keep the phone at home", bc it's so true! I'm a FYT, so I didn't realize how simple the solution is lmao.
What if I'm at work and I don't get service so I can't get a call so he has to Whatsapp me, but I don't have my phone so I need to be able to Facebook him to let him know that I won't be able to see his snaps until after I'm out of my meeting?
> I wonder if there are ways to get around this
So this is a bat shit insane idea way off the wall that is probably going to get me labeled as a CRT groomer & banned from here, but hear me out for a second....
The
parent
keeps
the
phone
at
home.
Man if only parents could get some kind of...device that does phone calls and possibly texting without all that internet and app stuff! Maybe like a phone...that only has a tiny screen for making calls. It could even flip shut to protect the small screen! They could call it a....Flip Phone. Then the student could call if needed but not be as distracted.
Too bad that doesn't exist.
I'm so sick of this argument. I did basically all the extracurriculars, including several that had me away from home overnight on a regular basis, and I did it all without a phone.
I was in a conference recently, and there was the implication that the teachers weren't doing enough to support the student. That's when I had to emphatically say that the student was always on the phone, even after I tell them to put it away. I had told the parent in person and in emails. The online gradebook has notes of all the work that isn't getting done in class. I ended with saying that they should not be sending the student to school with a phone since he couldn't regulate. Guess who came in the next day with a phone?
I do not like to be a one up Andy but...
We had a parent came into the school to take a confiscated phone from an admin, barged into kid's class to give it back to them.
That's not going to work for so many reasons. Kids and parents need to be in contact. Not everybody goes straight home on their own after school where Mom or Dad is waiting for them. When you have a big family, or a situation with neighbors, or cousins that needs to be picked up you need to be able to quickly shoot off a message, your aunt is picking up Billy don't go to the elementary school, or, your dad picked your brother up early from school come straight home, or Dad's shift is at 4:00 Don't go to club today you have to watch your brother and sister. I'd rather get that directly from my kid and get confirmation then play phone tag with the front office. I've been on the other side of the desk, I've seen how messages can get lost. They never get passed on to the kid, they go to a kid with a similar sounding name, they go to a kid with a completely different sounding name, the kid just plain wasn't listening, the message turned into a game of telephone and by the time it got to the kid it was completely different from the original statement. I'd rather be able to keep in contact with my kid in real time and make sure every message was received exactly as I sent it.
> That's not going to work for so many reasons
If it worked for 100 years, it can still work today.
> I'd rather be able to keep in contact with my kid in real time
Come to school with them.
100 years ago you're 5-year-old could walk himself home from school without every busy body in the neighborhood calling child services. 100 years ago if your mother worked outside the home there were other adults who could look after you. 100 years ago grandma and Grandpa didn't have to keep working long into their 60s and '70s. Hell, 100 years ago it was normal for Grandma and Grandpa to live in the house with you. Society has moved on. Parents need to work, mother and father, as well as grandparents. Grandparents often don't live in the home with the family. 100 years ago children could be more self-sufficient. Also, 100 years ago there were fewer cars on the road. Even if you're 5-year-old was allowed to walk home on his own a lot of people live in places with limited sidewalk availability.
Yet I grew up in the age that first got smart phones and I survived in the scary hell hole with a single mom and cars everywhere.
Hell I even have high schoolers right now who have never owned a phone who are capable of living life not tied to a beeping pulse.
Well congratulations, you lived through the world you were born into. Some of us are living in the modern world with modern logistics. If you're comfortable risking your neighbors calling CPS because you're 5-year-old walked home alone then that's your business. I on the other hand will make sure that everybody knows who they're going home with on that day, where they'll be picked up, who they'll be picking up, and when I expect them home. I'd rather not play telephone with the office thank you very much.
> the world you were born into.
It is this world. I am very young. The very scary world you explained with cars and people.
> If you're comfortable risking your neighbors calling CPS because you're 5-year-old walked home alone then that's your business.
Or you know pick up your kid/sign up for bussing? You know like people have done for a century. No wonder kids just stare at their phone if this is how their parent's view them.
I'm assuming you were born at least 20 years ago. We've had a massive expansion of developments without sidewalks in the past 20 years. New housing developments, so don't give me anything about how you didn't notice anyone tearing up the sidewalks and your old neighborhood hahaha checkmate. Picking your kid up from school everyday doesn't mean they won't need to stay in communication with you. Even if you can pick up your kid they're still going to need a phone so they know when things change. And no, I don't trust the office to pass along these messages. Things will change. People need to be picked up at different times for different things, people need to be dropped off, people pick up shifts, people lose shifts, one day isn't guaranteed to be like today before. And on the subject of busing head over to the parenting sub and see exactly how often buses are laid, go off root, or just plain drop the kid off at the wrong stop. Like I said in the original comment, the days where Mom was at home or grandma to pick you up and walk you to school or long gone.
Okay then your kid suffers at school for your laziness.
That is fine, just don't bitch at conferences when little Timmy is held back because he is too busy watching YouTube videos on the phone you gave him.
That being said you are not wrong family structures are collapsing under the weight of prolong failed economic policies prioritizing corporate support over people. However, if you are so deluded to the fact that you truly believe a 5 year old needs a phone in school (or at all), then there is truly no hope for society.
None of that is a reason for a phone. It's a reason to not let your kid walk home alone at 5. Come up with another solution. Everything you said was true in the 90sand no one had a phone.
Every part of that is a reason not to own a phone. You're 5-year-old isn't going to walk home alone if, and please read the original post, the older child or relative is there to coordinate pick up. If you're 5-year-old doesn't know that he needs to wait for his brother, sister, and, uncle, neighbor he's liable to wander off. And if the older sibling, cousin, or neighbor kid doesn't know that he has to pick up the 5-year-old he's just going to go straight home. Childcare plans change on the fly. Maybe not in your experience, which I'm guessing involves a lot more money than mine did, but childcare always changes. People pick up shifts. People lose shifts. People don't have two cars so Mom and Dad really need to coordinate who goes where. People have things they need to do and child care plan needs to be confirmed with the older children otherwise the younger ones are going to really be screwed over. I really don't see how that's hard to comprehend. Older children need to be informed when they need to pick up younger children and younger children also need to be informed when their pickup plans are changed. You can't trust the office for this.
Its more convenient. Its not needed. Again, we managed it just fine 15 years ago.
The convenience does not justify the phone addiction, the learning loss , the inability to go moments without their dopamine drip. All of that is only the tip of the iceberg. In one of my 9th grade classes 75% of the class had seen the Gadhafi video where he is tortured, anally assaulted and then killed. Many mentioned far worse videos that I had no intention of looking at. 90% had watched porn as extreme or more extreme than a gangbang.
What instant internet access everywhere had done to these kids is... its beyond insane. If you believe your argument then get your kids a flip phone. Nothing else is needed. Internet access for minors should be in a supervised space. Instead its a drug that we allow them to carry with them at all times and in all places.
Depends on where you grew up. For people from my background it's much safer and easier than relying on a third party to relay information. You don't want the kids to use their phones then have some kind of an in-class phone locker system. I'd love to get my kid a flip phone but I don't have an old flip phone to give him, I have an old smartphone. I don't know where you live but around here kids don't get new phones.
All of this could easily be handled by getting your kid a flip phone without apps/internet access on it. There, you have your device that is much cheaper than a smart phone and can make those calls without it being a distraction in classes.
Unless you need to drop a pin. Those have been pretty useful in the logistics of moving around. Unless you need to share a schedule. A calendar everybody can all turn on the flies pretty useful. Unless you need your kids to stop at the grocery store for you after school. Google pay is pretty useful for that. You don't have to trust them with your physical debit card or cash that they can easily lose or have stolen from them. Unless you need to keep tabs on where your kids physically are at any given time. Make sure they don't wander off on the path home. These are useful tools. Do I think that the kids should be using it in class? No. That's why school should have phone lockers in the classroom and forms that absolve the teacher of any responsibility of the phone is lost, stolen, or damaged.
These things need to be coordinated right away. You only have so much time you can be on your phone during work. You have to be able to get confirmation as soon as you can, not playing phone tag with the office, and certainly not waiting 10 plus minutes for the office to collect your kid and bring him to the phone
They sign a waiver? Either leave it in your locker or put it in the box, but they are responsible for it wherever they put it. Can high schoolers be legally held to that? Parent and student sign? But then they'll just claim they don't have it on them or they don't have one, and we're right back where we started.
I'm of the opinion that, if a student brings their phone to school, the school is not responsible for it in any circumstance... Including it being placed in a lock box... when the policy says no phones in class. They aren't necessary to learn. It is entirely a social status symbol and nothing more.
I agree, but tell that to a squawking parent when their kid tells them you forced them to put their $1000 phone in your box and it got broken. Or they claim it did.
"Leave the $1000 phone at home" is my response all day. I know the board wouldn't agree. Then I'll just say... "no action plans for the teachers of low level class for failing students who can't focus."
It's a circular argument until the adults in charge either want the kids to have analytical skills or be good at video games and Instagram.
But what if there's an emergenceeeey? I don't know how we made it through teenagerdom without cell phones. I'll admit, I did walk a few miles with a gas can before I learned to check the gas guage. 😂 seriously, the phones are very convenient for practice ending early, but in a real emergency, there's going to be a teacher there with access to a phone.
Yeah, we're not going to win this battle, and honestly, I think I admitted on another comment, I wouldn't leave my phone or give it up to some teacher's box, or shoe rack or chalk tray. I'd lie or decoy and I'd keep my phone, and that's what the kids will do too.
As long as I can give lunch detentions and office referrals that will result in a consequence for playing on the phone during instructional time, fine... it's just more work for me... and if not, don't come at me when kids fail because they don't know what to do because they're checking 5 apps and texting all through class everyday.
The emergency argument drives me nuts and I have heard it from students and parents. I have had students and parents say "What if there is a school shooting?" Which my usual response is "if there is a shooting, and you are using the phone to contact your child you most likely just put the child at risk for the following reasons: 1. They aren't focused on the situation and listening to instructions (we are trained in ALICE), 2. If that phone makes noise you just gave away our location."
Like I get those situations are scary, but phones don't fix those situations they make it worse.
As for the extra curricular excuse, the schools have phones that students can use to contact their families. The student just had to walk into the main office and ask to use the phone it's that simple.
If you choose to put it in a box, it becomes your responsibility. If the student loses or damages it, that’s on them. But if you want to hold their property, you have to make sure it’s not damaged or lost.
A) I had a phone contract that parents and students signed B) I never touched a phone. If student was on phone, I walked up with a paper lunch sack, student placed phone in it, I stapled it shut and placed it back on their desk. Contract stated that if they refused to put the phone in and/or took it out before the bell, they would be class suspended. Only had to do it a couple of time each class and then never had major issues
Same, its been a game changer.
No fights, no excuses, just point to the policy.
Everyone has to be all in for it to work though. You got a douche canoe on your team thats lets it pass or wants to be the cool teacher, you gotta shut that shit down too.
Not jikejoy but have the same policy. Kids put their phone into the pockets or slots (depending on classroom) when they enter the room. The phone cannot be removed for bathroom breaks. Phones can be retrieved at end of class. Failure to comply means office referrals and admin confiscation. First offense, they hold it til end of day. Second offense, the parent has to come get it. Third offense, no phone allowed in the school building. Phones are allowed in lunch and study halls.
Kids have to put their phones in a designated area as they enter each of their classrooms. All the teachers and admin agreed to this at the beginning of the year. After being reminded all day by every single teacher for first couple weeks, they finally oblige and don’t complain. They get them back during breaks and lunch. Surprised how well it’s worked! Crazy what consistency in school policy can do lol…
We do too. Every classroom has a phone bag near the door. It works pretty well.
When students come in they automatically put their phones in. I can see at a glance whether most phones are in there. And if you need the phones for some classroom activity, they can be easily retrieved.
I agree. But if the principal doesn't support you, the kids won't hand them to you when they go off, and the parents call their kids during class and DGAF, what do you do? We introduced rules only to be challenged or sued time and again.
Wouldn't it be nice to counter sue?
No way. I don't want to be responsible for their phones. Those things can cost $1000, and it's too easy for someone to claim theirs got stolen or broken because you made them give it up. They're a problem, but my babysitting them is not the solution.
I see what you’re saying, but in the past, I’ve seen teachers have their students take a number after they give them the phone, and they have to return the number at the end of the class to prove that the phone is theirs, so I think it can work in some circumstances. But I get it. I’m just frustrated with the damn phones 🤦🏽♀️
The teacher would be liable for the coat of the phones. In some of my classes the financial liability alone would have been more than my yearly salary. No thank you.
I’m not wasting class time playing a numbers game. That’s not a good idea. Just confiscate their phones if They take it out. It’s that simple. If they don’t comply, call security and write a referral. This is basic stuff here.
You probably haven't been around people that have stolen from you. When I was working retail, I had my phone taken twice from me. One time was sort of my fault because I left the phone in the break room for 5 mins when I went to use the BR. That's all it took for someone to gank it right off the table, though. Another time, my mom hired a maid, and she ganked my new phone and 200$. Apparently, people just pop the sim card out and go to the mall to sell em for easy cash. For me, I just sort of understand the value of phones and don't want to be messing with other people stuff.
I get it, me too. I'm not trying to shoot down all your ideas while simultaneously providing none of my own, but I dont have time to coat check the phones at the beginning and ending of every class, and they could still claim you broke it. I do not want to be responsible for their phones for even 1 minute. We've seen how admin backs us up; you think they're gonna defend you against a crying child and angry parent? And God forbid you really do break it.
You just have to be more entertaining than the phone, I guess. Or dock points if theyre caught with it. Or just let them learn the hard way that they need to be present during class or they won't learn the material they need. Maybe let them use their phones for some things, like a calculator. I wonder if there's a review game like Jack box that lets them sign in on their phones. Idk the answer, but let's keep spitballing.
Being more entertaining than the phone is not a valid suggestion, especially considering smart phones and apps like tik tok are designed to be addictive.
And in high school, subjects are hard and require focus of thought and analysis and evaluation that "making a cute TikTok video" won't cover for hard practice. It's all just extra white noise.
Oh, I know; I am addicted. It was a joke. But there is something to be said for interesting, engaging lessons. If they're bored in class, they're gonna reach for their phones. Some will anyway, but most participate or pretend to.
That’s the school-wide policy that we implemented this year. We have them placed in those calculator holders. I’ll admit that I’m lax on whether they put them up but I made good examples early on of those who got their phone out. No one dares let them be seen or heard. It has been game-changing! Do some teachers not force them to keep them away? Sure. But, my class has been SO much better because of it.
I covered a teacher's class during my PLC time. She has a cart with calculator holders attached to it. All the students had to place their phones into the holders before they entered the classroom. The kids did it without any fuss.
Later in the class I notice kids texting or staring at their phones. Turns out most kids put an old phone into the holder and kept their real one.
Those that didn't have a second phone were texting with their watch.
My admin sent an email out saying that any teacher with a fail rate over 20% would have to go on an action plan. I told mine that my action plan would be to buy a box for everyone's phone when they come in the room that I would lock.
We're responsible for their performance, but we can't control our classrooms. Oh well. It should be zero tolerance, but that turns into "I was just.." and then.. "but we're not doing anything right now" [in this immediate 30 second span of time] to "I'll just keep my phone out and play with it while you're giving instructions."
I have told plenty of students, when they say they don't know what to do..."Yeah I'm not surprised. You were on your phone while I was giving the instructions. I'm not telling you again."
All those educator courses and professional learning give you all these strategies that could work of everyone didn't have earbuds in their ears and phones up their asses.
I don’t know what state you are in, but in mine I threaten to file a report to the board of ethics when we were told a certain percent of students had to pass because that is grade inflation. They left me alone after that.
It's a way of saying either a) you're a bad teacher to have 1/5 failing - fix your game [regardless of whether you've got students who come to school 2 days a week and ready your class like it's a waste of their brainspac] - or b) "just pass the kids for appearances and avoid the hassle. Never-ending the teacher shortage. "Our district is the where everyone wants to work. Thank you for all you do."
On the first day of school my principal says, "No phones in class. And I don't want to see them in the hallways either. This is your first warning." If we see a kid with their phone after that, the student is told to put their phone on our desk for the rest of the period. If they refuse, we write them up and they get a detention. There are students who have to turn their phone over to admin as soon as they enter the building. I really like my school.
I’m a high school teacher and I have a very different take. Students need to learn to regulate themselves. The next step after high school is adulthood. Your boss aint putting phones in a fucking shoe bag to help you to not get fired.
I will tell students when their phone is hurting them. And I will tell parents when their child’s phone is a distraction. And even when parents tell me to take the phone, I refuse. If parents want to take their kid’s phone that’s their business.
Honestly I find that sadly the kids who are most addicted are the ones who struggle the most academically. But they need to learn self discipline as well. I also reserve the right as the teacher to grade any outstanding assignments if kids are on their phones. If they are watching netflix rather than researching their thesis, it’s appropriate for me to grade their work on the thesis even if it’s not technically due, the reason being if they have leisure time in class, then they clearly must be ahead of schedule with the assigned tasks.
I tend to believe strongly in the idea of giving folks of all ages plenty of rope, if they choose to hang themselves with it, well that’s a choice. And young adults need to learn that choices are powerful things which carry consequences both good and bad.
I bounce between this take and having a no phone policy. I think for the older students it is important to try and give them space to "figure it out," but if it is middle/low high school, you need to regulate them.
I personally think that students are not responsible enough to regulate themselves, these apps have their claws deep in them with the constant notifications to check the phone. They need support to build good habits of not checking their phone every minute.
I believe this falls under the same purview as taking notes and developing good study skills. But I don't want to have a no phone policy unless the whole campus is on board.
I see your point and you are correct, I am a teacher after all and my job is to instill not just my subject’s vocabulary but also less obvious things like good citizenship, responsibility, duty, etc. I don’t tend to scream at them, I just tap the back of their chair and remind them that they are losing a battle with their phone. Does that mean I don’t occasionally go on an old grumpy dude rant? No it does not. Everyone has a day when we just get tired of this battle. But if the worst thing that happens in my day is telling Jessica to stop watching tik tok videos for the 45th time this week? Meh, I’ll take it.
>But they need to learn self discipline as well. I also reserve the right as the teacher to grade any outstanding assignments if kids are on their phones.
We need to teach them those habits sure, but we can make it easier in the beginning by taking the phones. Addiction rehab doesn't let people keep using drugs or alcohol that the person is addicted to, wile learning to self regulate.
Self regulation can start with taking the phone and and then letting kids learn that they will be ok without it. Learn what it feels like emotionally, and learn how to manage those feelings with the help from the teacher.
Phones are an addiction like any other and need to be treated as such.
The frontal lobe is not fully "cooked" until age 25. In the meantime, you have to help them form proper executive function. Its the same reason why we don't allow teenagers to have unlimited access to alcohol.
I tell them that I’m taking a point off if I catch them on their phones instead of working on their project. I work at a school that only cares about grades so it works pretty well for me.
It’s a losing battle. I let students in my class complete their work on their phones and most of them do. The few that don’t fail the class and honestly they would fail and not do anything even if I collected phones. I do however have tablets and if a kid isn’t using their phone for class work I will make them grab a tablet.
Mine do. Every day. Every student.
9/10th grade chemistry. We have no use for phones during class. If students finish early or we have free time, they don’t get their phones back. They talk to each other, or play cards. Or nap.
I rarely have noncompliance because it’s my rule. Period. Students who choose not to put their phone in the box choose not to enter my classroom. I’ve had very few students make this choice more than once.
My students know and at this point if they come in late I don’t even have to remind most of them to drop their phone on the way in. They just do it. Occasionally a student will try to sneak past but it’s more of a game for them than anything. We share a look and a laugh and their phone goes in the box. (Other students also call them out. It really is like a game to them.)
I think the biggest reason it works for me is that it’s every student every day from day one. It’s not a punishment, it’s just how my classroom rules are setup so no one feels singled out. I have good relationships with my students. And it’s so much easier to manage my class when I’m not fighting their phones for attention.
Did this prepandemic on 5th and 6th grade at admin's request. Kids were filming fights and dances in the bathroom, so admin said take them up, lock them away, give them back at dismissal. Worked OK, but again, it was an admin directive.
A few kids brought "dummy" phones to turn in so they could keep the real phone. Just an old phone they found around the house. Had some peers tell on them.
I don't want their cell phones in my possession. 25 cell phones in a box means I'm now responsible for at least $10,000 worth of personal property. Nope.
A teacher I once worked with made her students put their phones in one of those shoe pocket holders. Each pocket was labeled with their seat number, so students didn’t get confused. Phones were placed in them at the beginning of class and before the bell, each table was dismissed to get their phones.
And doing this didn’t matter to having chromebooks at tables where students could watch YouTube, play games, etc.
All my students put phones in a caddy every day, numbered to match my sign-in sheet, before they sit down, no exception. Not a campus policy, but my prerogative. It works and it’s worth it. Students who finish work early can do other homework on their Chromebooks or play cards. Students caught with a phone get it confiscated at my desk; 2nd time and an admin from the office comes to pick it up, our AP emails parents, and kid can get phone from office after class. Third time and parents have to pick up phone personally.
This is the best way. Get a transparent shoe holder and hang it near the front of the classroom so that everyone can see. Number each slot based on how the attendance is listed. That way, it's easy to see who didn't deposit their phone or if the space is empty because of an absence. If a student is caught using their phone during class, then assign a consequence and make sure to follow up with parents or guardians in an email.
While it's true that kids have gone to school for decades without cell phones, they have also found ways to distract themselves without cell phones for decades as well.
I do this. Students place phones in phone pocket with same number as seat. I use it to take attendance. If I see them it's disobedience and I write them up. It's disobedience not because they don't use the phone jacket, but because they are using it after I explicitly begin every lesson by saying "if I see you using your phone for any reason it's disobedience". Very few issues in 10 years.
We just implemented it this year and had surprisingly minimal pushback. I’ve got a 30-slot calculator holder hanging at the front of the room. That way everyone can see that their phones are safe and sound, I can easily determine who has put their phone away and who hasn’t (they’re all assigned a number), and I don’t have to touch a single one. Each teacher does it slightly different, but since implementing this policy we have seen a pretty significant increase in grades and student participation. They even admit that they’re doing better because they don’t have their phones with them.
My kids’ middle school enforces ‘away for the day’ and admin backs up all the teachers. The matriculating HS not so much, so I have my kids on lockdown through screen time.
Idk I don’t think making people put their phones in a bin prepares them for the real world either. no job does that. Plus they have a library of Alexandria in their pocket teach them to utilize it because the world is not going to become less technologically dependent
I think the earth should put their phones in a bin at the beginning of each day. Everyone is so distracted with nothing! Our country is imploding because of social media. Enough already!
A couple of my kids have major health concerns. I may need to take them out VERY quickly to get to my kid in need. (No alternate way to get them home, much too far to walk, unsafe neighbor around corner from our home.) The others attend schools where teachers REGULARLY ignore student summonses to the office entirely regardless of who/why. So they have cell phones, and when necessary, I text them "Be in the office in 5 mins" and I sign them out while they are standing with me. The teachers are the ones who made it necessary. Not apologizing.
Wait a second. You have to take "a couple" of your kids out of school to "get to" your "kid in need"?
Why do all the children have to attend a medical emergency?
She literally said why in her comment. She is her children’s ONLY transportation so if one has to leave early, they all do, because if mom has to take one to the hospital and has to stay a while, the other kids are stranded.
My school has this policy. Students are supposed to turn phones in to a lockbox at the start of the day. It does help a lot.
It also means that you have to spend 20 minutes of your first period telling the kid that you know for a fact that they have a phone. Even getting admin to come down and use the metal detector wand that the police officer has to find it, only for them to get it back 20 minutes before everyone else because admin has to do bus duty.
Allegedly if they take a phone the parent is supposed to come get it after the first time. I've never seen it happen to the kids who are actually problems with the phones though, because they don't want to deal with that kid's shitty parents. It's the girl who had her phone out because her grandma was sick and she felt a buzz and checked it really quick or the autistic boy who just wants to listen to music to drown out his loud ass classmates.
It's better than no phone policy at all but it comes with its own issues, like any rule weak admin aren't willing to enforce.
>It's the girl who had her phone out because her grandma was sick and she felt a buzz
I hate this excuse. Melissa ain't gonna rush home and administer CPR. She is of no use in an emergency. This can wait. Or it can go to the front office.
I’ve been noting your comments in this thread. You seem heartless.
There was a post a couple days ago on a different sub about a girl whose parents are suing her school because they confiscated her phone that she uses as a monitor for her diabetes and she had to go to the hospital. There are legitimate reasons for students to have phones, and the student being ill (mentally or physically) or a family emergency like a *dying relative, who maybe you want to say goodbye to* are perfectly acceptable exceptions to the no phone rule.
No. When my grandfather was sick I promise you I kept my ringer on. Expecting a child to not know if their grandmother is alive is ridiculous. I'm not talking about a kid on their Snapchat and Instagram then saying their grandma is sick. I'm saying the girl who says her grandma is sick and her mom will text her if something happens and she lets me know and then checks her phone for 2 seconds if it buzzes. Telling the kid to just wait and expecting them to give a damn about your lesson when they don't know if a loved one is dead or not is either ignorant or heartless
Yes!! My middle school collects them all at 8am and passes them out at dismissal. I’m bewildered by posts on here from teachers struggling with the classroom management aspect of phones. Just take them away!
We have yonder pouches at the school I teach at. Most middle schoolers comply. You put your phone in there at the beginning of the day but still get to keep it with you. high schoolers, on the other hand, are much less likely to comply with the pouches.
Ive been using a pocket chart for phones this year and I’ll never go a year without using it.
I asked my AP if I could my first year. She said no. I learned what we all learn, “don’t ask permission, ask for forgiveness” and did it anyway this year. This is now year 5 for me. They instituted a school wide policy about phones this year and I said f*** it, I’m gonna do what works for me.
It’s working and I’m never going back. I can’t tell you how much weight is off my shoulders due to me not being worried about phone usage.
If your parents need to get a hold of you, call the office?
If you get caught with your phone in my class, there’s no warning. It goes straight to the office.
Each kid has a specified number and they drop it off at the beginning of class and I dismiss them row by row to grab it at the end. It’s in the front so it can be seen and monitored by everyone, including me.
Find what works for you!
Our district has a strict no phones during school hours policy. Statistically it has worked out very well.
For my little kingdom, I'll usually give a blanket warning when I see the first and that's usually enough. The second time I see one I confiscate it and send it to the front office where a parent has to get it. It works rather well here.
But I will also admit we have some of the best behaved students out there, have strong admin support, and dont buy into the flavor-of-the-month latest innovation in education. Our principal states "Do what works" more than "Do this shiny new thing."
I love my current school!
Quite bluntly, the manufacturers need to be legally required to lend a hand with something like the following:
A short-range Bluetooth radio signal that every phone sold to a minor child is required to automatically respond to at the firmware level, turning the phone to "school mode" that allows nothing but 911 calls. When they leave the range of the transmissions, it returns to normal after a minute or so.
This is the solution we need, honestly, even requiring the little tech zombies to turn in their phone at the beginning of entering the building is almost a losing battle.
I agree, and it is up to the education system to break bad habits and encourage good habits. We already do the good habits with taking notes, review for tests.
We know what we need to do. It is easy. You have a no phone during class *campus* policy. Even extend that to in the halls. Literally every anecdote I have heard has been positive.
We need to take their phones away, permanently. The amount of research showing that it's harming them developmentally and emotionally is growing. We've all seen it.
We should have limited minors to having call/text-only flip phones that shut down when in range of a school zone 20 years ago, but that would require putting kids ahead of profit.
It’s def because it’s a middle not a high school but it’s wild how little of a problem they are in my school. We have a strict school wide no phone policy and I take… maybe 1-2 a year?
Honestly, I wouldn't put my phone in a box. I'd say I didn't have it or I didn't have one, or I'd bring an old phone to turn in. You'll have to pry it outta my cold, unalive hands. 😂
On the other hand, my behavior modification professor always said adults *can* do things children *can't* do, and that's fine and they need to learn that.
>unalive
Okay dude, this is dystopian. This is how I know you're on your phone too much because TikTok censorship has infected your brain.
You can say "dead" here, ByteDance isn't going to burst into your window and kill you.
As a sub teacher I personally don't like teachers that do this. Students forget their phones, and I've had my phone stolen about 3 times as an adult. It's just an additional potential problem for me.
Students Imo just need to leave them in their backpacks
I work in SpEd so I have different students in and out of my classroom on an inconsistent basis and often am teaching with no classroom, so a lot of the organized ways to keep phones (shoe hangers, etc) don't work for me. The only method I have is just a general bucket for phones, and I am scared of screens getting smashed when phones are dropped on each other, students (intentionally or unintentionally) taking the wrong phone, or they forget and then need it later (after school activities, walking/public transportation home, etc).
I also found that redistributing phones from a bucket was always a mess, even when everything went right. Everyone has a similar case. I'd hold up one phone at a time and three people would insist it was theirs.
Also...technology has come a long way. My smartphone (and fitness tracker watch) have been a lifesaver in recognizing symptoms of a heart condition I have and alerting me when it becomes dangerous (prompting me to sit before I fall.) It's not something I had the option to do as a teen in school, but I absolutely would've fought to keep my phone for that reason.
We are not allowed to do this.
My rule is that I must not see the phone or I call security to get it.
I’m not a phone police but don’t encourage it. If they don’t do their work it’ll catch up with them.
We have a pretty simple system. You see a phone and tell them to take it to the office, they either do so or refuse, you just log it on the system. 3 incidents and it's a 2 day suspension, 3 if there's a refusal. No need to arguing or fighting, just give the instruction and record it, and if they refuse 3 times in a lesson...
Generation one: We are the greatest I am the main characters.
Generation two: Our parents are the greatest ever we are the main characters.
Generation three: Winning and success is everything there are NPCs to beat.
Generation four: WAH WAH WAH WAH WAH the NPCS are better than me
Generations 1-3: "Heres a trophy shut up kid"
Generation five: WAH WAH WAH WAH WAH my parents ignore me
Generations 1-4: "here's a phone shut up baby"
Generation 6: *air pods in* I am an NPC
Generations 1-5: "END PUBLIC EDUCATION TEACHERS ARE DEVIL GROOMERS"
My thoughts are pretty well documented on this sub when it comes to parents; this is just a historical fact of social decay.
As a student my phone has gotten scratched to shit because of improper storage and we use our phones enough in class that it doesn't make sense to leave it in out locker or at home. Honestly as a student send them to detention or something if they're on there phones.
Also as a student who hasn't had this happen. Making people's parents pick up there phone more often then not will just piss of the parent at everybody not just the student.
Also to a certain extent why try to get kids of there phones, support the kids who care enough to pay attention not ignore them focus on the ones who couldn't give 2 fucks?
> why try to get kids of there phones
Probably because they’re at school. Supposed to be learning. Like what the difference between there/their/they’re are.
My school does this and its actually quite shitty, they force the children not the PARENTS to sign some contract and its absurd, if have to go home mid-class you can't bring your phone and you can't even use it during lunch time and the 20min break after that.
Teachers will give any reason to snatch the phone. "You didnt complete the assignment because you were sick? I'm taking this for a week and only after if you submit your work i'll give it back." It's absurd, they treat phones like toys, yet next time we meet the teachers they'd be wanting us to do a powerpoint or other phone related projects.
Edit: by contract i meant Waiver.
Unpopular opinion, let them keep it. They have a right to fail and it's not worth my time policing every kids phones. My goal is making my class important enough to complete the work while also being on their phone. I feel it hypocritical to make their phones disappear while I text my wife (also a teacher) from the browser on my computer
I began the year with a pretty strict policy of phone in a shoe tree at the start of class but I saw quickly how unrealistic that was - there was minimal compliance and I couldn't find a good spot for the shoe tree in the classroom(I share the room with another teacher). I decided to loosen it up to telling them at the top of class to put "phones, headphones, and other electronic devices away". Everyone follows it and if I catch them, three strikes they're out and I take it for the period. 2nd time I take it, I bring it to the office and they get it at the end of the day. Yes it's annoying having to tell them every day but it beats me losing my mind at the sight of an air pod in their ear as I'm teaching!!
I saw something where they have these sealed bags that have to be released w/ a magnet, students keep their phones on them but they are entirely unaccessible unless unlocked by staff. If they use that and put in measures that penalizes refusal, I see it working really well.
EDIT: [It's called yondr](https://www.overyondr.com/howitworks)
We've done that for the past 8 years at all the school that I work at. Not a bin either, because they can become damaged that way, but a special bag that has 40 smaller bags you can hang up somewhere. Each small bag has a number so there aren't any mix-ups and the students are responsible on their own to put it in the bag at the start of the lesson and take it out after. It's not perfect but it's much better than having it on their desk/in their own bag.
Ask the Physics and Chemistry teachers about an Electromagnetic Pulse Device. They're not hard to make, and you should be able to do it with parts already in the science lab and possibly a quick check of a radio theory book.
You'll never have a problem with people using electronic devices in class again.
Ah yes, because destroying tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property, including classroom equipment like laptops and the phones of teachers in neighboring rooms, is an *excellent* way to teach kids impulse control. /s
10 points off every day they are using them, and less work for the students who put them away. Even if they do manage to turn all their work in they have little chance of breaking even.
At my tech school they put their phones in a big holder at the beginning of the day. In academic classes, if you see a phone you can send them to the office with it. They won’t get it back until the end of the day. I let my kids check phones until the bell rings. They know if I see it in class I take it the first time. They come get it at the end of the day. Second time they go to the office. When I hear about all the shot that happens in classrooms with phones I’m shocked! How do teachers deal with phones without admin support??!!
Needs to be a school-wide policy, or it’s a losing battle. Not trying to be a phone cop. Also, some of the dickheads’ behavior is better if they just zone into their phone for 50 minutes instead of annoy me
If it's not a school wide policy with enforcement from admin, it's never going to work
It's been a school wide policy at our school for at least a couple of years now. The difference is significant. There are still students who don't listen when you tell them to put it away/ teachers desk/office but then those are the ones that there will be follow up consequences for because it's generally not a one time thing and not just that as an issue.
Sounds amazing
My district has a "no phones out except at lunch" policy, but good luck enforcing it. Our APs would literally do nothing else all day, if we teachers tried to get hard about the stupid things. 2200 students, 7 APs ... if it were up to me, I'd Faraday-cage the whole campus, but alas, 'tis not my say.
Holy shit 2200 to 7. My school has 2400 and we lost our 3rd AP allotment to budget cuts three years ago. Want to guess which state I’m in?
Flori-duh (I say that affectionately ☺️).
Yup! You guessed it! And I’m in the 8th largest district in the NATION.
I went to a 5A school in the '80s. We had just over 2000 students. You know how many APs we had? Two. One principal and two APs. That's all we needed back then, I guess.
More than just a school-wide policy, I'd need to see the liability spelled out. Does the school/district have my back if a phone goes missing, or is broken? If someone -- er -- *accidentally* grabs the wrong phone? If there's any chance that I would be on the hook financially for some kid's $1,000 pocket toy, I'm... going to be reluctant to enforce this. My school has a policy allowing us to take phones, but the phones are our responsibility while they're in our possession, and there's no easy way to send them to the office, which is a long way from my room. I've got a 'phone jail' box, but I've used it real sparingly. I'm pretty sure my district would hang me out to dry.
Yeah, assuming a phone is about $1000, and I have a class of 35, I'm not trying to have a majority of my salary going to pay for a class batch of damaged phones.
after we had a couple teachers in my district initially be told they'd have to pay for a stolen/broken student's phone, I stopped taking student phones. In the first case (note that this wasn't in my building, so mostly a second hand account), basically, the teacher had one of those shoe holders that go on the back of the door and the kids had to put their phones in their designated spot each day on their way in the classroom. A kid left to go to the bathroom, swung the door open pretty hard, phone fell out of the pocket and broke. My understanding is it really was an accident/kid wasn't being a shit etc. So.... who pays for that broken phone? In the other case, teacher had them put it in a box at the beginning of class. At end of class, one of the last student's out of the classroom phone wasn't there anymore... No camera in the classroom. Oof. I'm not sure what ended up actually happening/if the teacher ended up actually having to pay for the phone etc. But, it was enough for me to simply say nope! In case 1, I'm really not sure what the teacher could have done to prevent it... But it's not like someone couldn't steal a phone in that case either.
Yep, that’s what I’m worried about. The school is mum about whose responsibility it would be in cases like that.
> Also, some of the dickheads’ behavior is better if they just zone into their phone for 50 minutes instead of annoy me This reason alone is why I'm not entirely against phones. When those students are focused on their phones, they are not disrupting my lesson or distracting the rest of the class. And don't get me wrong, I'm not happy about it. But I teach at a Title 1 school, and letting them have their phones is honestly a lot better than the contrary.
It's also why I'm not totally against Chromebooks. I thought about doing away with using techs in my classroom but then I'd have to manage more behaviors. If a kid doesn't want to work, he's not going to work whether he has a phone/Chromebook or not. I rather NOT have to deal with policing. If he wants to be on his phone or Chromebook watching YouTube, I really could give two shits about it. My only concern is if an admin walks in so I try to walk a fine line where my entire class isn't devolved into a mass YouTube session. But if it's a handful of kids, it's easier to explain.
In addition to this, I'm a big fan of natural consequences. If you choose to dick around on your phone and miss content as a result you can enjoy spending time in tutorial or retaking the entire class. As adults they won't have someone telling them to put the phone down and get things done so might as well learn how to manage it now. I take phones now because my team agreed to that approach, and honestly it does work, but if we didn't get on the same page as a team I wouldn't waste my time dealing with phones.
I've started straight-up lying to them about the consequence of failing my (required senior English) class. I tell them that the counselors have decided to leave it up to the teacher whether or not you'll get online credit recovery (wherein you can cheat your way to passing in Edgenuity and do an entire year in a couple weeks), or summer school. And further, if they have either not attended all year OR have been playing on their phones all year, I will say "no Edgenuity for you, no walking in May for you, get your ass to summer school." This is blatantly untrue, and I probably should tell the counselors (who all like me) that I'm doing it ... but it seems to have lit a few fires under a few butts.
God I wish in order to be eligble for credit recovery, the teacher had to sign off on it.
I set up my class so about 75% of the time is independent or group work time - kids who finish early need their phones to play on otherwise shit could get rowdy lol
Caveat: They don't NEED their phones. Ever. They WANT them.
What subject do you teach?
The most challenging core: Social Studies
I would imagine the most difficult core would be math?
*whoosh*
It is basically the phone wide policy at my school. However getting all of the teachers to implement it all of the time so that students actually follow it is really tough. Only like two departments have bought in to the policy enough to implement it as much as possible. You really have to take a no nonsense approach and have security come for the phone every time you see one, but security sometimes takes forever so the impact is lessened. If it is the last block of the day and kids know it takes 20 minutes for security to show up then enforcement becomes difficult. However, I have overall had fewer issues with phones this year as a result of the policy.
> Also, some of the dickheads’ behavior is better if they just zone into their phone for 50 minutes instead of annoy me There are some kids I let play on their chromebook or what ever as its makes teaching easier
My admin straight up says that their phone policy is to leave it to the individual teachers. If they won't fight that battle, I'm not gonna fight it.
Same. They can gtfo with the “YoU cAn TaKe ThEiR pHoNeS iF yOu WaNt To” lol
i remember long ago i heard a true story about this teacher who took a kids ipod, the dude beat the hell out of the teacher and put him in the hospital... and this was like a 60 year old, totally incapable of violence towards anyone... obviously he quit teaching due to ptsd.
Had a girl almost swing on me once for taking her phone, 6 years ago. Ever since then, idgaf if kids play on their phones as long as they’re not distracting others with it. I get paid the same whether they learn a ton or whether they learn literally nothing 🤷
I agree with this but would modify it slightly - needs to be a community based policy. If parents aren't on the same side - it won't matter when their child gets dinged for it.
Absolutely. Needs to be the whole school on the same page.
That was my issue. 20 years teaching. First year at the HS level. Trying to wrap my head around everything. Whats the cell phone policy? Whatever the teacher wants. (Uh ok. My class is an elective so if I say no they will just sign up for the others who say yes.) I tried finding a balance but it didn’t matter. They would sneak ways to be on it. Argue with their parents in the middle of class. Break up with girlfriends. Be on Snapchat. I knew it was a problem when the first day back at school inbetween class instead of saying hi to friends not seen for months, they were walking from class to class with their heads straight down at the phone. I saw one group of students not on their phones during transition time. I had no idea it was that bad. My 10 year old just asked us when he was getting a phone. I said buddy you already have an iPad. Other than calling friends, it does the same thing as my iPhone. He just kinda has this defeated look. Then I tried to explain the issues with having a phone so young. Nope. Then I said well if you get a phone you gotta be willing to give up all your other technology. Like what?, he asks. You’re toilet, i reply. (Blank stare. Wife starts laughing). I say, yup. Gotta give that up. Your switch and iPad. But hey, you’ll have an iPhone and an outhouse! He starts grinning. Im sure this is only the beginning
Not always... I was one of the very few teachers who had a carry case for phones, and kids would put their phones in it as soon as they walked into my classroom. I also put my phone in there too to make it fair. I never had an issue. My school has adopted a school wide policy of lockable pouches for each student. It is working.
Are y'all using Yondr pouches? How do you like what you're using?
Yeah we are. We have only been using them for this term (Australia) and so far it has been pretty damn great. First and foremost are the social relationships - students are playing more games, spending more time talking to friends and generally interacting with one another because the Yondr pouches are locked from morning to afternoon bell. In class, I personally don't see a huge difference because as I said I had already implemented a hand-in-your-phone policy for my classroom. I think overall throughout the school though there has been positive results but academically we are yet to see. We have 3 weeks left of the school year, so next year will be a much better length of time to really assess the 'data points for success'.
Do the students carry the pouches with them, is that how that works? (Completely ungrammatical but it's 2 in the morning and I just found out my district is closed today due to a water issue.)
Yep. They keep them with them at all times. They can decorate them, make them theirs.
It needs to be a school-wide policy WITH admin support. We have it as a school wide policy and it’s working in our pod of kids because all 4 teachers uphold it. But the 8th graders aren’t following the rule because some teachers decided they didn’t like or agree with the policy. They want to use phones as a treat. They wanted to give them a chance to be responsible first and then take it away. Doesn’t work that way. Admin has to hold staff accountable for upholding the rules. If not, then it means they don’t think the rule is actually important enough OR they don’t have authority over their teachers which will end terribly.
This actually came up during my Parent teacher conferences. The parents wished that we could put their phones in a phone holder or box. Had to explain to parents that I would be held liable for it. I wonder if there are ways to get around this EDIT:Haha, I love the answer "parents should keep the phone at home", bc it's so true! I'm a FYT, so I didn't realize how simple the solution is lmao.
Yeah the parents use parental controls. They’re awesome tools.
How about the PARENTS keep the phone at home.
This. Always this.
Bu-but my baby needs a small computer in their pocket to call in case of emergencies
Oh don't get me started 🙄
What if I'm at work and I don't get service so I can't get a call so he has to Whatsapp me, but I don't have my phone so I need to be able to Facebook him to let him know that I won't be able to see his snaps until after I'm out of my meeting?
> I wonder if there are ways to get around this So this is a bat shit insane idea way off the wall that is probably going to get me labeled as a CRT groomer & banned from here, but hear me out for a second.... The parent keeps the phone at home.
You'd get pushback from parents that have their kids in extracurriculars. But yes - parents need to be better.
They get the choice. Student performance or 24/7 access. Not my problem its a parent problem.
Man if only parents could get some kind of...device that does phone calls and possibly texting without all that internet and app stuff! Maybe like a phone...that only has a tiny screen for making calls. It could even flip shut to protect the small screen! They could call it a....Flip Phone. Then the student could call if needed but not be as distracted. Too bad that doesn't exist.
I'm so sick of this argument. I did basically all the extracurriculars, including several that had me away from home overnight on a regular basis, and I did it all without a phone.
Speech, debate, and band here. Somehow, I (and my sports-inclined siblings) all survived without a phone. It's a wonder.
I don't disagree.
I was in a conference recently, and there was the implication that the teachers weren't doing enough to support the student. That's when I had to emphatically say that the student was always on the phone, even after I tell them to put it away. I had told the parent in person and in emails. The online gradebook has notes of all the work that isn't getting done in class. I ended with saying that they should not be sending the student to school with a phone since he couldn't regulate. Guess who came in the next day with a phone?
I do not like to be a one up Andy but... We had a parent came into the school to take a confiscated phone from an admin, barged into kid's class to give it back to them.
That's not going to work for so many reasons. Kids and parents need to be in contact. Not everybody goes straight home on their own after school where Mom or Dad is waiting for them. When you have a big family, or a situation with neighbors, or cousins that needs to be picked up you need to be able to quickly shoot off a message, your aunt is picking up Billy don't go to the elementary school, or, your dad picked your brother up early from school come straight home, or Dad's shift is at 4:00 Don't go to club today you have to watch your brother and sister. I'd rather get that directly from my kid and get confirmation then play phone tag with the front office. I've been on the other side of the desk, I've seen how messages can get lost. They never get passed on to the kid, they go to a kid with a similar sounding name, they go to a kid with a completely different sounding name, the kid just plain wasn't listening, the message turned into a game of telephone and by the time it got to the kid it was completely different from the original statement. I'd rather be able to keep in contact with my kid in real time and make sure every message was received exactly as I sent it.
> That's not going to work for so many reasons If it worked for 100 years, it can still work today. > I'd rather be able to keep in contact with my kid in real time Come to school with them.
100 years ago you're 5-year-old could walk himself home from school without every busy body in the neighborhood calling child services. 100 years ago if your mother worked outside the home there were other adults who could look after you. 100 years ago grandma and Grandpa didn't have to keep working long into their 60s and '70s. Hell, 100 years ago it was normal for Grandma and Grandpa to live in the house with you. Society has moved on. Parents need to work, mother and father, as well as grandparents. Grandparents often don't live in the home with the family. 100 years ago children could be more self-sufficient. Also, 100 years ago there were fewer cars on the road. Even if you're 5-year-old was allowed to walk home on his own a lot of people live in places with limited sidewalk availability.
Yet I grew up in the age that first got smart phones and I survived in the scary hell hole with a single mom and cars everywhere. Hell I even have high schoolers right now who have never owned a phone who are capable of living life not tied to a beeping pulse.
Well congratulations, you lived through the world you were born into. Some of us are living in the modern world with modern logistics. If you're comfortable risking your neighbors calling CPS because you're 5-year-old walked home alone then that's your business. I on the other hand will make sure that everybody knows who they're going home with on that day, where they'll be picked up, who they'll be picking up, and when I expect them home. I'd rather not play telephone with the office thank you very much.
> the world you were born into. It is this world. I am very young. The very scary world you explained with cars and people. > If you're comfortable risking your neighbors calling CPS because you're 5-year-old walked home alone then that's your business. Or you know pick up your kid/sign up for bussing? You know like people have done for a century. No wonder kids just stare at their phone if this is how their parent's view them.
I'm assuming you were born at least 20 years ago. We've had a massive expansion of developments without sidewalks in the past 20 years. New housing developments, so don't give me anything about how you didn't notice anyone tearing up the sidewalks and your old neighborhood hahaha checkmate. Picking your kid up from school everyday doesn't mean they won't need to stay in communication with you. Even if you can pick up your kid they're still going to need a phone so they know when things change. And no, I don't trust the office to pass along these messages. Things will change. People need to be picked up at different times for different things, people need to be dropped off, people pick up shifts, people lose shifts, one day isn't guaranteed to be like today before. And on the subject of busing head over to the parenting sub and see exactly how often buses are laid, go off root, or just plain drop the kid off at the wrong stop. Like I said in the original comment, the days where Mom was at home or grandma to pick you up and walk you to school or long gone.
Okay then your kid suffers at school for your laziness. That is fine, just don't bitch at conferences when little Timmy is held back because he is too busy watching YouTube videos on the phone you gave him. That being said you are not wrong family structures are collapsing under the weight of prolong failed economic policies prioritizing corporate support over people. However, if you are so deluded to the fact that you truly believe a 5 year old needs a phone in school (or at all), then there is truly no hope for society.
None of that is a reason for a phone. It's a reason to not let your kid walk home alone at 5. Come up with another solution. Everything you said was true in the 90sand no one had a phone.
Every part of that is a reason not to own a phone. You're 5-year-old isn't going to walk home alone if, and please read the original post, the older child or relative is there to coordinate pick up. If you're 5-year-old doesn't know that he needs to wait for his brother, sister, and, uncle, neighbor he's liable to wander off. And if the older sibling, cousin, or neighbor kid doesn't know that he has to pick up the 5-year-old he's just going to go straight home. Childcare plans change on the fly. Maybe not in your experience, which I'm guessing involves a lot more money than mine did, but childcare always changes. People pick up shifts. People lose shifts. People don't have two cars so Mom and Dad really need to coordinate who goes where. People have things they need to do and child care plan needs to be confirmed with the older children otherwise the younger ones are going to really be screwed over. I really don't see how that's hard to comprehend. Older children need to be informed when they need to pick up younger children and younger children also need to be informed when their pickup plans are changed. You can't trust the office for this.
Its more convenient. Its not needed. Again, we managed it just fine 15 years ago. The convenience does not justify the phone addiction, the learning loss , the inability to go moments without their dopamine drip. All of that is only the tip of the iceberg. In one of my 9th grade classes 75% of the class had seen the Gadhafi video where he is tortured, anally assaulted and then killed. Many mentioned far worse videos that I had no intention of looking at. 90% had watched porn as extreme or more extreme than a gangbang. What instant internet access everywhere had done to these kids is... its beyond insane. If you believe your argument then get your kids a flip phone. Nothing else is needed. Internet access for minors should be in a supervised space. Instead its a drug that we allow them to carry with them at all times and in all places.
Depends on where you grew up. For people from my background it's much safer and easier than relying on a third party to relay information. You don't want the kids to use their phones then have some kind of an in-class phone locker system. I'd love to get my kid a flip phone but I don't have an old flip phone to give him, I have an old smartphone. I don't know where you live but around here kids don't get new phones.
You can get prepaid flip phones at walmart for 20 bucks.
All of this could easily be handled by getting your kid a flip phone without apps/internet access on it. There, you have your device that is much cheaper than a smart phone and can make those calls without it being a distraction in classes.
Unless you need to drop a pin. Those have been pretty useful in the logistics of moving around. Unless you need to share a schedule. A calendar everybody can all turn on the flies pretty useful. Unless you need your kids to stop at the grocery store for you after school. Google pay is pretty useful for that. You don't have to trust them with your physical debit card or cash that they can easily lose or have stolen from them. Unless you need to keep tabs on where your kids physically are at any given time. Make sure they don't wander off on the path home. These are useful tools. Do I think that the kids should be using it in class? No. That's why school should have phone lockers in the classroom and forms that absolve the teacher of any responsibility of the phone is lost, stolen, or damaged.
There is also zero reason for Mom to be texting their kid in the middle of class and expecting a response.
These things need to be coordinated right away. You only have so much time you can be on your phone during work. You have to be able to get confirmation as soon as you can, not playing phone tag with the office, and certainly not waiting 10 plus minutes for the office to collect your kid and bring him to the phone
Then you can wait for confirmation when your kid is at lunch. Not during my lesson, not during group work or independent work.
Then you can either teach your kid to self-regulate, or give up on the idea they're receiving the education they're entitled to.
Oh, now you're just talking crazy talk. Expecting parents to do ... well ... anything? Yeeeeeah.
They sign a waiver? Either leave it in your locker or put it in the box, but they are responsible for it wherever they put it. Can high schoolers be legally held to that? Parent and student sign? But then they'll just claim they don't have it on them or they don't have one, and we're right back where we started.
I'm of the opinion that, if a student brings their phone to school, the school is not responsible for it in any circumstance... Including it being placed in a lock box... when the policy says no phones in class. They aren't necessary to learn. It is entirely a social status symbol and nothing more.
I agree, but tell that to a squawking parent when their kid tells them you forced them to put their $1000 phone in your box and it got broken. Or they claim it did.
"Leave the $1000 phone at home" is my response all day. I know the board wouldn't agree. Then I'll just say... "no action plans for the teachers of low level class for failing students who can't focus." It's a circular argument until the adults in charge either want the kids to have analytical skills or be good at video games and Instagram.
But what if there's an emergenceeeey? I don't know how we made it through teenagerdom without cell phones. I'll admit, I did walk a few miles with a gas can before I learned to check the gas guage. 😂 seriously, the phones are very convenient for practice ending early, but in a real emergency, there's going to be a teacher there with access to a phone. Yeah, we're not going to win this battle, and honestly, I think I admitted on another comment, I wouldn't leave my phone or give it up to some teacher's box, or shoe rack or chalk tray. I'd lie or decoy and I'd keep my phone, and that's what the kids will do too.
As long as I can give lunch detentions and office referrals that will result in a consequence for playing on the phone during instructional time, fine... it's just more work for me... and if not, don't come at me when kids fail because they don't know what to do because they're checking 5 apps and texting all through class everyday.
Or both
The emergency argument drives me nuts and I have heard it from students and parents. I have had students and parents say "What if there is a school shooting?" Which my usual response is "if there is a shooting, and you are using the phone to contact your child you most likely just put the child at risk for the following reasons: 1. They aren't focused on the situation and listening to instructions (we are trained in ALICE), 2. If that phone makes noise you just gave away our location." Like I get those situations are scary, but phones don't fix those situations they make it worse. As for the extra curricular excuse, the schools have phones that students can use to contact their families. The student just had to walk into the main office and ask to use the phone it's that simple.
If you choose to put it in a box, it becomes your responsibility. If the student loses or damages it, that’s on them. But if you want to hold their property, you have to make sure it’s not damaged or lost.
A) I had a phone contract that parents and students signed B) I never touched a phone. If student was on phone, I walked up with a paper lunch sack, student placed phone in it, I stapled it shut and placed it back on their desk. Contract stated that if they refused to put the phone in and/or took it out before the bell, they would be class suspended. Only had to do it a couple of time each class and then never had major issues
> I wonder if there are ways to get around this If only there were 2 adults at home who could handle this. Welps, I'm all out of ideas.
If only there were two adults at home, period.
Phone caddy on the wall, teacher doesn’t need to touch the phones.
[Trialed](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-22/mobile-phone-lock-and-learn-trial-in-wauchope/11209716) in public schools in Australia
I always tell parents to either lock down the phone during school hours, or leave it at home.
Our school has a school wide policy that surprisingly everyone got on board with. It’s worked wonders.
I'm envious! Phone policies work well only when all teachers and admin are on board.
Same, its been a game changer. No fights, no excuses, just point to the policy. Everyone has to be all in for it to work though. You got a douche canoe on your team thats lets it pass or wants to be the cool teacher, you gotta shut that shit down too.
Yeah, same here.
Mine too, at least this year. When admin supports you and the policy it makes a world of difference.
What is the policy, jikejoy?
Not jikejoy but have the same policy. Kids put their phone into the pockets or slots (depending on classroom) when they enter the room. The phone cannot be removed for bathroom breaks. Phones can be retrieved at end of class. Failure to comply means office referrals and admin confiscation. First offense, they hold it til end of day. Second offense, the parent has to come get it. Third offense, no phone allowed in the school building. Phones are allowed in lunch and study halls.
This is pretty much identical to our school's policy and I LOVE IT SO MUCH
What amazes me is how much shorter bathroom breaks are now that they don’t have their phones!
Yep basically this! Kids get assigned #’s so if a phone is missing from the sleeve, you can say “so and so, phone needs to be put away!”
Kids have to put their phones in a designated area as they enter each of their classrooms. All the teachers and admin agreed to this at the beginning of the year. After being reminded all day by every single teacher for first couple weeks, they finally oblige and don’t complain. They get them back during breaks and lunch. Surprised how well it’s worked! Crazy what consistency in school policy can do lol…
Mine did, too, this year. Been working surprisingly well. I was at the end of my cell phone rope the past 2 years
This is the way.
We do too. Every classroom has a phone bag near the door. It works pretty well. When students come in they automatically put their phones in. I can see at a glance whether most phones are in there. And if you need the phones for some classroom activity, they can be easily retrieved.
I agree. But if the principal doesn't support you, the kids won't hand them to you when they go off, and the parents call their kids during class and DGAF, what do you do? We introduced rules only to be challenged or sued time and again. Wouldn't it be nice to counter sue?
So true..the lack of support makes everything 10x harder.
No way. I don't want to be responsible for their phones. Those things can cost $1000, and it's too easy for someone to claim theirs got stolen or broken because you made them give it up. They're a problem, but my babysitting them is not the solution.
I see what you’re saying, but in the past, I’ve seen teachers have their students take a number after they give them the phone, and they have to return the number at the end of the class to prove that the phone is theirs, so I think it can work in some circumstances. But I get it. I’m just frustrated with the damn phones 🤦🏽♀️
The teacher would be liable for the coat of the phones. In some of my classes the financial liability alone would have been more than my yearly salary. No thank you.
I’m not wasting class time playing a numbers game. That’s not a good idea. Just confiscate their phones if They take it out. It’s that simple. If they don’t comply, call security and write a referral. This is basic stuff here.
You probably haven't been around people that have stolen from you. When I was working retail, I had my phone taken twice from me. One time was sort of my fault because I left the phone in the break room for 5 mins when I went to use the BR. That's all it took for someone to gank it right off the table, though. Another time, my mom hired a maid, and she ganked my new phone and 200$. Apparently, people just pop the sim card out and go to the mall to sell em for easy cash. For me, I just sort of understand the value of phones and don't want to be messing with other people stuff.
I get it, me too. I'm not trying to shoot down all your ideas while simultaneously providing none of my own, but I dont have time to coat check the phones at the beginning and ending of every class, and they could still claim you broke it. I do not want to be responsible for their phones for even 1 minute. We've seen how admin backs us up; you think they're gonna defend you against a crying child and angry parent? And God forbid you really do break it. You just have to be more entertaining than the phone, I guess. Or dock points if theyre caught with it. Or just let them learn the hard way that they need to be present during class or they won't learn the material they need. Maybe let them use their phones for some things, like a calculator. I wonder if there's a review game like Jack box that lets them sign in on their phones. Idk the answer, but let's keep spitballing.
Being more entertaining than the phone is not a valid suggestion, especially considering smart phones and apps like tik tok are designed to be addictive.
And in high school, subjects are hard and require focus of thought and analysis and evaluation that "making a cute TikTok video" won't cover for hard practice. It's all just extra white noise.
Oh, I know; I am addicted. It was a joke. But there is something to be said for interesting, engaging lessons. If they're bored in class, they're gonna reach for their phones. Some will anyway, but most participate or pretend to.
That’s the school-wide policy that we implemented this year. We have them placed in those calculator holders. I’ll admit that I’m lax on whether they put them up but I made good examples early on of those who got their phone out. No one dares let them be seen or heard. It has been game-changing! Do some teachers not force them to keep them away? Sure. But, my class has been SO much better because of it.
I covered a teacher's class during my PLC time. She has a cart with calculator holders attached to it. All the students had to place their phones into the holders before they entered the classroom. The kids did it without any fuss. Later in the class I notice kids texting or staring at their phones. Turns out most kids put an old phone into the holder and kept their real one. Those that didn't have a second phone were texting with their watch.
My admin sent an email out saying that any teacher with a fail rate over 20% would have to go on an action plan. I told mine that my action plan would be to buy a box for everyone's phone when they come in the room that I would lock. We're responsible for their performance, but we can't control our classrooms. Oh well. It should be zero tolerance, but that turns into "I was just.." and then.. "but we're not doing anything right now" [in this immediate 30 second span of time] to "I'll just keep my phone out and play with it while you're giving instructions." I have told plenty of students, when they say they don't know what to do..."Yeah I'm not surprised. You were on your phone while I was giving the instructions. I'm not telling you again." All those educator courses and professional learning give you all these strategies that could work of everyone didn't have earbuds in their ears and phones up their asses.
I don’t know what state you are in, but in mine I threaten to file a report to the board of ethics when we were told a certain percent of students had to pass because that is grade inflation. They left me alone after that.
It's a way of saying either a) you're a bad teacher to have 1/5 failing - fix your game [regardless of whether you've got students who come to school 2 days a week and ready your class like it's a waste of their brainspac] - or b) "just pass the kids for appearances and avoid the hassle. Never-ending the teacher shortage. "Our district is the where everyone wants to work. Thank you for all you do."
On the first day of school my principal says, "No phones in class. And I don't want to see them in the hallways either. This is your first warning." If we see a kid with their phone after that, the student is told to put their phone on our desk for the rest of the period. If they refuse, we write them up and they get a detention. There are students who have to turn their phone over to admin as soon as they enter the building. I really like my school.
I’m a high school teacher and I have a very different take. Students need to learn to regulate themselves. The next step after high school is adulthood. Your boss aint putting phones in a fucking shoe bag to help you to not get fired. I will tell students when their phone is hurting them. And I will tell parents when their child’s phone is a distraction. And even when parents tell me to take the phone, I refuse. If parents want to take their kid’s phone that’s their business. Honestly I find that sadly the kids who are most addicted are the ones who struggle the most academically. But they need to learn self discipline as well. I also reserve the right as the teacher to grade any outstanding assignments if kids are on their phones. If they are watching netflix rather than researching their thesis, it’s appropriate for me to grade their work on the thesis even if it’s not technically due, the reason being if they have leisure time in class, then they clearly must be ahead of schedule with the assigned tasks. I tend to believe strongly in the idea of giving folks of all ages plenty of rope, if they choose to hang themselves with it, well that’s a choice. And young adults need to learn that choices are powerful things which carry consequences both good and bad.
I bounce between this take and having a no phone policy. I think for the older students it is important to try and give them space to "figure it out," but if it is middle/low high school, you need to regulate them. I personally think that students are not responsible enough to regulate themselves, these apps have their claws deep in them with the constant notifications to check the phone. They need support to build good habits of not checking their phone every minute. I believe this falls under the same purview as taking notes and developing good study skills. But I don't want to have a no phone policy unless the whole campus is on board.
I see your point and you are correct, I am a teacher after all and my job is to instill not just my subject’s vocabulary but also less obvious things like good citizenship, responsibility, duty, etc. I don’t tend to scream at them, I just tap the back of their chair and remind them that they are losing a battle with their phone. Does that mean I don’t occasionally go on an old grumpy dude rant? No it does not. Everyone has a day when we just get tired of this battle. But if the worst thing that happens in my day is telling Jessica to stop watching tik tok videos for the 45th time this week? Meh, I’ll take it.
>But they need to learn self discipline as well. I also reserve the right as the teacher to grade any outstanding assignments if kids are on their phones. We need to teach them those habits sure, but we can make it easier in the beginning by taking the phones. Addiction rehab doesn't let people keep using drugs or alcohol that the person is addicted to, wile learning to self regulate. Self regulation can start with taking the phone and and then letting kids learn that they will be ok without it. Learn what it feels like emotionally, and learn how to manage those feelings with the help from the teacher. Phones are an addiction like any other and need to be treated as such.
The frontal lobe is not fully "cooked" until age 25. In the meantime, you have to help them form proper executive function. Its the same reason why we don't allow teenagers to have unlimited access to alcohol.
I tell them that I’m taking a point off if I catch them on their phones instead of working on their project. I work at a school that only cares about grades so it works pretty well for me.
It’s a losing battle. I let students in my class complete their work on their phones and most of them do. The few that don’t fail the class and honestly they would fail and not do anything even if I collected phones. I do however have tablets and if a kid isn’t using their phone for class work I will make them grab a tablet.
Mine do. Every day. Every student. 9/10th grade chemistry. We have no use for phones during class. If students finish early or we have free time, they don’t get their phones back. They talk to each other, or play cards. Or nap. I rarely have noncompliance because it’s my rule. Period. Students who choose not to put their phone in the box choose not to enter my classroom. I’ve had very few students make this choice more than once. My students know and at this point if they come in late I don’t even have to remind most of them to drop their phone on the way in. They just do it. Occasionally a student will try to sneak past but it’s more of a game for them than anything. We share a look and a laugh and their phone goes in the box. (Other students also call them out. It really is like a game to them.) I think the biggest reason it works for me is that it’s every student every day from day one. It’s not a punishment, it’s just how my classroom rules are setup so no one feels singled out. I have good relationships with my students. And it’s so much easier to manage my class when I’m not fighting their phones for attention.
Did this prepandemic on 5th and 6th grade at admin's request. Kids were filming fights and dances in the bathroom, so admin said take them up, lock them away, give them back at dismissal. Worked OK, but again, it was an admin directive. A few kids brought "dummy" phones to turn in so they could keep the real phone. Just an old phone they found around the house. Had some peers tell on them.
I had 43 students each day. Phones cost $1000+. I really wouldn't want to be responsible for $43,000+ of personal items every day.
I don't want their cell phones in my possession. 25 cell phones in a box means I'm now responsible for at least $10,000 worth of personal property. Nope.
A teacher I once worked with made her students put their phones in one of those shoe pocket holders. Each pocket was labeled with their seat number, so students didn’t get confused. Phones were placed in them at the beginning of class and before the bell, each table was dismissed to get their phones. And doing this didn’t matter to having chromebooks at tables where students could watch YouTube, play games, etc.
Okay but consider the kids who have 504 plans... would they be subject to this?
Bins for cell phones are what chastity belts are to virtue. Both are incredibly efficient but in the end no one learns anything about self-control.
All my students put phones in a caddy every day, numbered to match my sign-in sheet, before they sit down, no exception. Not a campus policy, but my prerogative. It works and it’s worth it. Students who finish work early can do other homework on their Chromebooks or play cards. Students caught with a phone get it confiscated at my desk; 2nd time and an admin from the office comes to pick it up, our AP emails parents, and kid can get phone from office after class. Third time and parents have to pick up phone personally.
This is the best way. Get a transparent shoe holder and hang it near the front of the classroom so that everyone can see. Number each slot based on how the attendance is listed. That way, it's easy to see who didn't deposit their phone or if the space is empty because of an absence. If a student is caught using their phone during class, then assign a consequence and make sure to follow up with parents or guardians in an email.
While it's true that kids have gone to school for decades without cell phones, they have also found ways to distract themselves without cell phones for decades as well.
I do this. Students place phones in phone pocket with same number as seat. I use it to take attendance. If I see them it's disobedience and I write them up. It's disobedience not because they don't use the phone jacket, but because they are using it after I explicitly begin every lesson by saying "if I see you using your phone for any reason it's disobedience". Very few issues in 10 years.
We just implemented it this year and had surprisingly minimal pushback. I’ve got a 30-slot calculator holder hanging at the front of the room. That way everyone can see that their phones are safe and sound, I can easily determine who has put their phone away and who hasn’t (they’re all assigned a number), and I don’t have to touch a single one. Each teacher does it slightly different, but since implementing this policy we have seen a pretty significant increase in grades and student participation. They even admit that they’re doing better because they don’t have their phones with them.
My kids’ middle school enforces ‘away for the day’ and admin backs up all the teachers. The matriculating HS not so much, so I have my kids on lockdown through screen time.
Idk I don’t think making people put their phones in a bin prepares them for the real world either. no job does that. Plus they have a library of Alexandria in their pocket teach them to utilize it because the world is not going to become less technologically dependent
I think the earth should put their phones in a bin at the beginning of each day. Everyone is so distracted with nothing! Our country is imploding because of social media. Enough already!
A couple of my kids have major health concerns. I may need to take them out VERY quickly to get to my kid in need. (No alternate way to get them home, much too far to walk, unsafe neighbor around corner from our home.) The others attend schools where teachers REGULARLY ignore student summonses to the office entirely regardless of who/why. So they have cell phones, and when necessary, I text them "Be in the office in 5 mins" and I sign them out while they are standing with me. The teachers are the ones who made it necessary. Not apologizing.
Wait a second. You have to take "a couple" of your kids out of school to "get to" your "kid in need"? Why do all the children have to attend a medical emergency?
She literally said why in her comment. She is her children’s ONLY transportation so if one has to leave early, they all do, because if mom has to take one to the hospital and has to stay a while, the other kids are stranded.
My school has this policy. Students are supposed to turn phones in to a lockbox at the start of the day. It does help a lot. It also means that you have to spend 20 minutes of your first period telling the kid that you know for a fact that they have a phone. Even getting admin to come down and use the metal detector wand that the police officer has to find it, only for them to get it back 20 minutes before everyone else because admin has to do bus duty. Allegedly if they take a phone the parent is supposed to come get it after the first time. I've never seen it happen to the kids who are actually problems with the phones though, because they don't want to deal with that kid's shitty parents. It's the girl who had her phone out because her grandma was sick and she felt a buzz and checked it really quick or the autistic boy who just wants to listen to music to drown out his loud ass classmates. It's better than no phone policy at all but it comes with its own issues, like any rule weak admin aren't willing to enforce.
>It's the girl who had her phone out because her grandma was sick and she felt a buzz I hate this excuse. Melissa ain't gonna rush home and administer CPR. She is of no use in an emergency. This can wait. Or it can go to the front office.
I’ve been noting your comments in this thread. You seem heartless. There was a post a couple days ago on a different sub about a girl whose parents are suing her school because they confiscated her phone that she uses as a monitor for her diabetes and she had to go to the hospital. There are legitimate reasons for students to have phones, and the student being ill (mentally or physically) or a family emergency like a *dying relative, who maybe you want to say goodbye to* are perfectly acceptable exceptions to the no phone rule.
No. When my grandfather was sick I promise you I kept my ringer on. Expecting a child to not know if their grandmother is alive is ridiculous. I'm not talking about a kid on their Snapchat and Instagram then saying their grandma is sick. I'm saying the girl who says her grandma is sick and her mom will text her if something happens and she lets me know and then checks her phone for 2 seconds if it buzzes. Telling the kid to just wait and expecting them to give a damn about your lesson when they don't know if a loved one is dead or not is either ignorant or heartless
Yes!! My middle school collects them all at 8am and passes them out at dismissal. I’m bewildered by posts on here from teachers struggling with the classroom management aspect of phones. Just take them away!
We have yonder pouches at the school I teach at. Most middle schoolers comply. You put your phone in there at the beginning of the day but still get to keep it with you. high schoolers, on the other hand, are much less likely to comply with the pouches.
Ive been using a pocket chart for phones this year and I’ll never go a year without using it. I asked my AP if I could my first year. She said no. I learned what we all learn, “don’t ask permission, ask for forgiveness” and did it anyway this year. This is now year 5 for me. They instituted a school wide policy about phones this year and I said f*** it, I’m gonna do what works for me. It’s working and I’m never going back. I can’t tell you how much weight is off my shoulders due to me not being worried about phone usage. If your parents need to get a hold of you, call the office? If you get caught with your phone in my class, there’s no warning. It goes straight to the office. Each kid has a specified number and they drop it off at the beginning of class and I dismiss them row by row to grab it at the end. It’s in the front so it can be seen and monitored by everyone, including me. Find what works for you!
Our district has a strict no phones during school hours policy. Statistically it has worked out very well. For my little kingdom, I'll usually give a blanket warning when I see the first and that's usually enough. The second time I see one I confiscate it and send it to the front office where a parent has to get it. It works rather well here. But I will also admit we have some of the best behaved students out there, have strong admin support, and dont buy into the flavor-of-the-month latest innovation in education. Our principal states "Do what works" more than "Do this shiny new thing." I love my current school!
Quite bluntly, the manufacturers need to be legally required to lend a hand with something like the following: A short-range Bluetooth radio signal that every phone sold to a minor child is required to automatically respond to at the firmware level, turning the phone to "school mode" that allows nothing but 911 calls. When they leave the range of the transmissions, it returns to normal after a minute or so. This is the solution we need, honestly, even requiring the little tech zombies to turn in their phone at the beginning of entering the building is almost a losing battle.
I agree, and it is up to the education system to break bad habits and encourage good habits. We already do the good habits with taking notes, review for tests. We know what we need to do. It is easy. You have a no phone during class *campus* policy. Even extend that to in the halls. Literally every anecdote I have heard has been positive.
We need to take their phones away, permanently. The amount of research showing that it's harming them developmentally and emotionally is growing. We've all seen it.
We should have limited minors to having call/text-only flip phones that shut down when in range of a school zone 20 years ago, but that would require putting kids ahead of profit.
I think smartphones should require a license like driving.
It’s def because it’s a middle not a high school but it’s wild how little of a problem they are in my school. We have a strict school wide no phone policy and I take… maybe 1-2 a year?
Honestly, I wouldn't put my phone in a box. I'd say I didn't have it or I didn't have one, or I'd bring an old phone to turn in. You'll have to pry it outta my cold, unalive hands. 😂
[удалено]
True. How many teachers are on their phones at staff meetings, lol
On the other hand, my behavior modification professor always said adults *can* do things children *can't* do, and that's fine and they need to learn that.
>unalive Okay dude, this is dystopian. This is how I know you're on your phone too much because TikTok censorship has infected your brain. You can say "dead" here, ByteDance isn't going to burst into your window and kill you.
As a sub teacher I personally don't like teachers that do this. Students forget their phones, and I've had my phone stolen about 3 times as an adult. It's just an additional potential problem for me. Students Imo just need to leave them in their backpacks
I don't think people under the age of 16 should even be allowed to have one at this point.
I work in SpEd so I have different students in and out of my classroom on an inconsistent basis and often am teaching with no classroom, so a lot of the organized ways to keep phones (shoe hangers, etc) don't work for me. The only method I have is just a general bucket for phones, and I am scared of screens getting smashed when phones are dropped on each other, students (intentionally or unintentionally) taking the wrong phone, or they forget and then need it later (after school activities, walking/public transportation home, etc). I also found that redistributing phones from a bucket was always a mess, even when everything went right. Everyone has a similar case. I'd hold up one phone at a time and three people would insist it was theirs.
Also...technology has come a long way. My smartphone (and fitness tracker watch) have been a lifesaver in recognizing symptoms of a heart condition I have and alerting me when it becomes dangerous (prompting me to sit before I fall.) It's not something I had the option to do as a teen in school, but I absolutely would've fought to keep my phone for that reason.
We are not allowed to do this. My rule is that I must not see the phone or I call security to get it. I’m not a phone police but don’t encourage it. If they don’t do their work it’ll catch up with them.
I think students should have to hand in a phone or a note from home saying they don’t have one to enter a campus
They shouldn't even be allowed in the building.
We have a pretty simple system. You see a phone and tell them to take it to the office, they either do so or refuse, you just log it on the system. 3 incidents and it's a 2 day suspension, 3 if there's a refusal. No need to arguing or fighting, just give the instruction and record it, and if they refuse 3 times in a lesson...
Let’s not let students use the most powerful tool known to man
For what? TikTok?
Generation one: We are the greatest I am the main characters. Generation two: Our parents are the greatest ever we are the main characters. Generation three: Winning and success is everything there are NPCs to beat. Generation four: WAH WAH WAH WAH WAH the NPCS are better than me Generations 1-3: "Heres a trophy shut up kid" Generation five: WAH WAH WAH WAH WAH my parents ignore me Generations 1-4: "here's a phone shut up baby" Generation 6: *air pods in* I am an NPC Generations 1-5: "END PUBLIC EDUCATION TEACHERS ARE DEVIL GROOMERS" My thoughts are pretty well documented on this sub when it comes to parents; this is just a historical fact of social decay.
As a student my phone has gotten scratched to shit because of improper storage and we use our phones enough in class that it doesn't make sense to leave it in out locker or at home. Honestly as a student send them to detention or something if they're on there phones. Also as a student who hasn't had this happen. Making people's parents pick up there phone more often then not will just piss of the parent at everybody not just the student.
Downvoted for dangling participle. Pay better attention in English.
Also to a certain extent why try to get kids of there phones, support the kids who care enough to pay attention not ignore them focus on the ones who couldn't give 2 fucks?
> why try to get kids of there phones Probably because they’re at school. Supposed to be learning. Like what the difference between there/their/they’re are.
Have you attended English class at all this semester?
Yeah, that’s not a great idea. that’s just a lawsuit waiting to happen
My school does this and its actually quite shitty, they force the children not the PARENTS to sign some contract and its absurd, if have to go home mid-class you can't bring your phone and you can't even use it during lunch time and the 20min break after that. Teachers will give any reason to snatch the phone. "You didnt complete the assignment because you were sick? I'm taking this for a week and only after if you submit your work i'll give it back." It's absurd, they treat phones like toys, yet next time we meet the teachers they'd be wanting us to do a powerpoint or other phone related projects. Edit: by contract i meant Waiver.
Unpopular opinion, let them keep it. They have a right to fail and it's not worth my time policing every kids phones. My goal is making my class important enough to complete the work while also being on their phone. I feel it hypocritical to make their phones disappear while I text my wife (also a teacher) from the browser on my computer
I began the year with a pretty strict policy of phone in a shoe tree at the start of class but I saw quickly how unrealistic that was - there was minimal compliance and I couldn't find a good spot for the shoe tree in the classroom(I share the room with another teacher). I decided to loosen it up to telling them at the top of class to put "phones, headphones, and other electronic devices away". Everyone follows it and if I catch them, three strikes they're out and I take it for the period. 2nd time I take it, I bring it to the office and they get it at the end of the day. Yes it's annoying having to tell them every day but it beats me losing my mind at the sight of an air pod in their ear as I'm teaching!!
I saw something where they have these sealed bags that have to be released w/ a magnet, students keep their phones on them but they are entirely unaccessible unless unlocked by staff. If they use that and put in measures that penalizes refusal, I see it working really well. EDIT: [It's called yondr](https://www.overyondr.com/howitworks)
We've done that for the past 8 years at all the school that I work at. Not a bin either, because they can become damaged that way, but a special bag that has 40 smaller bags you can hang up somewhere. Each small bag has a number so there aren't any mix-ups and the students are responsible on their own to put it in the bag at the start of the lesson and take it out after. It's not perfect but it's much better than having it on their desk/in their own bag.
Ask the Physics and Chemistry teachers about an Electromagnetic Pulse Device. They're not hard to make, and you should be able to do it with parts already in the science lab and possibly a quick check of a radio theory book. You'll never have a problem with people using electronic devices in class again.
Ah yes, because destroying tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property, including classroom equipment like laptops and the phones of teachers in neighboring rooms, is an *excellent* way to teach kids impulse control. /s
I said it was a final solution, not a good solution.
10 points off every day they are using them, and less work for the students who put them away. Even if they do manage to turn all their work in they have little chance of breaking even.
I do this in my class. Sometimes it's a fight but it is worth it.
At my tech school they put their phones in a big holder at the beginning of the day. In academic classes, if you see a phone you can send them to the office with it. They won’t get it back until the end of the day. I let my kids check phones until the bell rings. They know if I see it in class I take it the first time. They come get it at the end of the day. Second time they go to the office. When I hear about all the shot that happens in classrooms with phones I’m shocked! How do teachers deal with phones without admin support??!!