Thankfully, our daughter's middle school has an "Away for the Day" Cell Phone Policy that requires phones to be in lockers all day. They lay out how to communicate when in need (Main Office number, even in an emergency), why students need a break from their phones (mental break and social interaction), and how real learning happens without distractions (focus on learning, better performance). And they actually have consequences when caught breaking the policy: first time, pick it up at the end of the day; second time, parents have to come pick it up; third time, child can't enter school with cell phone at all.
I work part time as a substitute teacher in the U.S., primarily at the high school level. The school districts I work with all have the same policy you describe from your son's school, students are allowed to have their phones on them at all times, but are technically not supposed to pull them out. It's a lot of work for teachers to police these policies, and there's a very strong visceral reaction from teens at the times teachers try to confiscate a phone. What I've observed is that these policies end up not being enforced. In practice students still use their phones a lot.
Thank you for writing these action steps. They are very good. We have experienced our kids being left out of school group social media chats and other similar things as well. I whole heartedly agree with your point, "If any group is affiliated with a public school, it should not require a smartphone to access information." It would be amazing if we could just get schools to start with this.
Thankfully, our daughter's middle school has an "Away for the Day" Cell Phone Policy that requires phones to be in lockers all day. They lay out how to communicate when in need (Main Office number, even in an emergency), why students need a break from their phones (mental break and social interaction), and how real learning happens without distractions (focus on learning, better performance). And they actually have consequences when caught breaking the policy: first time, pick it up at the end of the day; second time, parents have to come pick it up; third time, child can't enter school with cell phone at all.
As a parent, it's fantastic.
I work part time as a substitute teacher in the U.S., primarily at the high school level. The school districts I work with all have the same policy you describe from your son's school, students are allowed to have their phones on them at all times, but are technically not supposed to pull them out. It's a lot of work for teachers to police these policies, and there's a very strong visceral reaction from teens at the times teachers try to confiscate a phone. What I've observed is that these policies end up not being enforced. In practice students still use their phones a lot.
Thank you for writing these action steps. They are very good. We have experienced our kids being left out of school group social media chats and other similar things as well. I whole heartedly agree with your point, "If any group is affiliated with a public school, it should not require a smartphone to access information." It would be amazing if we could just get schools to start with this.
Great piece!!