Virginia Schools Implement Cellphone Bans to Boost Student Engagement

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Written By Blue & Gold NLR Team

 

 

Each morning, students at Martin Luther King Middle School in Richmond, Virginia, start their day by turning in their phones.

I don’t worry about notifications, texts, or social media, said 8th grader Jazmine Anderson.

The school began a program last year where students lock their phones in special pouches from the company Yondr, which are then stored in a supervised backpack. Initially, students kept the pouches with them, but they often tried to open them, said 8th grade English teacher Jasmine Armistead.

Nearly all U.S. teens 95% have access to a smartphone, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey. A 2023 Common Sense Media report found that about 1 in 5 teens receive 500 or more notifications per day, many during school hours. About 97% of survey participants used their phones for about 43 minutes during school hours, roughly the length of a class period.

Principal Annette Dabney believes taking phones away from the school’s 500 students is the best solution.

Student engagement is up, test scores are up, and classroom disruptions are down. Teachers can teach, Dabney said.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently issued an executive order requiring schools to limit or ban cellphones by Jan. 1. Twelve states have already banned or encouraged bans on phones in class.

At Huguenot High School across town, they take a different approach. Students hand in their phones during class but can use them between periods and at lunch.

It feels better because I can see my phone and get it if I really need it, said student Tiffany Taylor.

Last year, the school tried Yondr pouches but switched to a less restrictive plan with student input.

“I didn’t like it because I felt safer with my phone for emergencies, Taylor said.

Another student, Ashanti Wallace, said not having her phone is refreshing.

It’s nice not to worry about texts and just focus on the teacher, Wallace said.

Principal Michael Massa said taking away phones for the entire school day can upset students.

It’s not just students—adults, too, Massa said.

When asked about criticism that the rules are too soft, Massa said, “Being soft or hard isn’t helpful in education. We lead with love and want to make sure our students are ready to learn.

Everyone is adjusting to the new approach.

 

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