A suburban high school has instituted a policy requiring students to put away their cell phones while in class this fall, part of a broader discussion about the impact of technology on learning and socialization in schools.
“We are addressing the negative impact of cell phones in the educational environment,” said Taya Kinzie, principal of Evanston Township High School.
ETHS officials, in coordination with staff, parents and students, have decided to make classrooms “cell phone free” for the coming year.
During the school day, students will be required to store their cell phones away from their desks and in specially designated areas while in class.
“They stay there for the entire block,” Kinzie said. “At the end of the block, they get their cell phones back and we have 10-minute breaks so they can talk with their parents.”
Some parents and students have raised safety concerns about not having phones, especially in active shooter situations and other incidents, but school officials say having a phone in those scenarios can also be dangerous.
“You’re not expected to use your phone. It’s even a safety issue, you don’t want the phone lighting up a room or making noise,” Kinzie said.
School administrators said enhanced training has been provided to students and faculty to deal with any emergency situation where phones might be stored away from teens at school, and say the training should help ensure their safety.
As researchers continue to sound the alarm about constant access to communication devices, schools across the country are considering other options. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order mandating cellphone-free education, while Florida and Indiana have also banned cellphones from classrooms.
California is considering similar legislation, and while Illinois has yet to pass such a measure, Kinzie said summer school programs are already showing promising results now that cellphones are being put away away from students.
“One of our teachers even said, ‘I haven’t seen kids interact with each other like this in eight or nine years,’” she said.
NBC Chicago
