When the ban on cell phone usage went into effect at the start of the academic year, many Montclair High School students saw dystopian visions of an Orwellian censored state.
But while teachers ask students to put their phones in a pouch for the period, the plan to lock away the phones in Yondr pouches for an entire school day has been stalled.
The latter plan would have students lock away their phones in those Yondr pouches until the end of the day. The only way for a student to open the pouch would be to tap the pouch on a base unit.
The more aggressive cell phone ban was delayed this summer and is not expected to start until some time after the winter break, according to Interim Superintendent Damen Cooper. In August, Cooper said in an article featured in the “Montclair Local” that there needs to be more conversation and a plan to ensure every school can implement the rule.
Cooper said he also wants to hear from students before implementing a stricter policy. However, many students informally voiced their opinions on the phone policy with a mix of emotions.
“Although controversial and difficult for many to take part in it will help students engage more during class instruction,” Gabe Davis, a senior at Montclair High School, said. Davis also said that the rule has made him more focused in class and that he thinks there does not need to be any more changes to the current rule.
“The current high school rule is effective, as teachers and administrators have been enforcing it,” MHS Principal Jeffrey Freeman said. Freeman added that the rule had not been revised in many years and said the district was still revising the policy.
“The first time the teacher has to give a warning. If the student refuses, then the teacher can communicate with a parent, give detention or even deal with the student’s grade level administrator,” Freeman said.
Currently, the rule only applies to phones but not laptops, Freeman added.
“Some students have a personal device, therefore they can have a personal Wi-Fi connection, which would make it easy for them to access websites blocked by the district, like ChatGPT or other AI websites.
But the new phone policy benefits both staff and students at MHS, students and teachers said.
“Students are more engaged in class, but also what was missing before that was whenever there was any downtime in class. Kids would not talk to each other and automatically take out their phones.” English teacher Jamie Swinkski said.
Teachers report that students pay more attention, talk to each other more and even think about the possibility of improving grades due to the new phone policy.
Swinski has noticed this in the classroom. “The difference is tremendous. Kids are more engaged in what we are doing. They are actually talking to each other. It is less discipline. I don’t have to yell at people to put their phones away. We’ll see, but I imagine overall grades will be better because they won’t be distracted by checking on their phones.” Swinski said.
Students said they also don’t mind the new policy after realizing it will not affect them as much as they originally thought. In fact, many said the new policy might even benefit them.
“I feel indifferent about them. They don’t affect my daily school life,” Sydney Emmons, a junior at MHS, said. “I feel as though I have gotten more work done in class, but at the same time, the only thing I would use my phone for in class regularly is listening to music.”
Although the new policy is favored by teachers and students, teachers can still see the flaws in phone holders. Sometimes students forget to retrieve their phones, leading to lost devices.
Ryan Casazza, a math teacher at MHS, who does not use the phone holder, points out what could go wrong. “I worry that phones could get stolen or missing and during a real lockdown, having phones in your possession is a good thing.”
Casazza said he also sees why students might rebel against the new policy. “Phone jail [as holders are casually called] has a negative connotation, so kids might rebel more.” Casazza said.
In short, phone holders have benefited the school by reducing distractions, improving student focus, and creating a better learning environment, leading to an advanced learning environment in Montclair High School, staff and students maintained.
