Our school handbook describes a student mobile phone usage policy that we (especially myself) have rarely enforced fully. It states that student’s phones should be put away out of sight/out of mind during school hours. In the past, I have taken a more relaxed view of things, offering more freedom to older students and expecting greater self-control in return.
This hasn’t been happening. While some students can resist the siren song of a Snapchat alert, most cannot. They move from one distraction to another, education is suffering, and this is not teaching workplace-ready behaviors. Many students have become accustomed to filling every gap by opening their phone and mentally checking out. Nor am I the only teacher experiencing this; it has become a universal experience for teachers.
The good news is that my part of this problem is something I can control. I have been relaxed in the past, and will tighten up my enforcement going forward. In fact, starting Monday, all the teachers at the high school are tightening up their expectations about school cell phone usage.
Here’s what that means for parents: First, your student might not be able to reply to your during-class text messages as quickly as before, they will be able to respond before/after school, and during lunch. Please be patient with them. (If there’s a truly urgent emergency, please contact the high school office at 509-243-4151.) Second, when a student is on their phone at inappropriate times, it will be confiscated to the office. First for a day, for a week the second time, and a month the third time. (I hope none of our students are such slow learners as that.)
The juice is worth the squeeze. The upside we are after is this: increased student attention and focus, resulting in better academics. Also better relationships between students, and perhaps better mental health overall.
Thank you for your support and understanding. If you have any questions about this policy, please reach out to me.
Sincerely,
James Finkbeiner
