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A teacher describes the advancement of technology during throughout her teaching career. She has gone through many perspectives, but one was eye opening. Students needed to be guided with cell phone usage. "How do cell phone policies affect education equity?". Cell phones are not just an object, they connect to privilege, respect, trust, and responsibility. The writer discusses her experience with the White House and how people used their phones even with the President of the United States. Is there a double standard? She asked, "Why is it easy for educators to deny students privileges that they allow themselves; why is it acceptable to mete out to minors a punishment that adults would laugh at?"

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In Pursuit of a Cell Phone Policy - ASCD

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Not long ago, most districts banned cell phones in school. Some schools still enforce such policies, but in others, students can use cell phones for personal communication within reason and employ these devices for learning. 1 Many educators sit somewhere between banning phones and incorporating th

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Cell phones clearly create issues for school staff members. As some schools districts or even legislations are creating some strict cell phone policies, some schools are questioning the validity. Some teachers are not even worried one cell phone usage just as a distraction, but the amount of screen time and how it effects them. This article enlightens on the issues among enforcing these policies. The major ideal discussed was instead of banning cell phones, teach students how to properly use them. Incorporate cell phones properly into the classroom, collaborate. Parents also want to be able to easily communicate with their children if necessary.

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Sexting. Cyberbullying. Googling test answers. Taking a picture of a quiz and sending it to friends who have the same class later in the day. Paying more attention to Instagram notifications than biology class.

Smartphones have transformed the way we communicate, but there's no question they can be a major headache for teachers and administrators.

That's why a flurry of schools have recently put in place restrictions or bans on students' use of cellphones in school. The changes represent a pivot away from the more open student cellphone policies that districts instituted in previous years. But not everyone thinks the new restrictions are a step in the right direction.

The recent changes are fueled by frustrated educators, who worry that by allowing students to spend so much time on their devices, they are feeding an addiction and stunting students' development of face-to-face communication skills.

That was a big reason why the Forest Hills district, near Grand Rapids, Mich., decided at the start of this school year to ban cellphones throughout the school day, even during lunch.

"We really wanted to provide a clean break for students and not have the frenetic energy that can happen if kids start texting each other or social-media posts start going," said Dan Behm, the superintendent. The district piloted the ban last school year and found that students said they were less anxious when they weren't so attached to their devices, Behm added.

More than 30 schools, or in some cases, entire districts have enacted or stepped up some sort of cellphone restrictions beginning in either the 2018-19 school year or the start of this academic year, according to an Education Week analysis.

California recently passed legislation that allows school districts to restrict or prohibit device use in class, although it's not a requirement. And at least four other states debated putting significant limits on the devices.

Other countries have had more success enacting widespread bans. Ontario, a Canadian province, is restricting student cellphone use during instructional time. (The restrictions, which are scheduled to go into effect later this year, include an exception for classroom activities and health and other emergencies.) And in 2018, France passed a law outlawing the use of cellphones in schools for students up to age 15.

But banning cellphones can come with its own vexations. Enforcement can be difficult, and districts are wary of taking on liability for holding a student's confiscated phone. Many teachers like using some cellphone-based applications in class, such as online microscopes and polling applications.

What's more, some experts say it's better to keep cellphones in school and help train students how to use them responsibly, rather than just banning their use.

Plenty of educators agree.

Brian Toth, the superintendent of Saint Mary's Area school district in northwestern Pennsylvania, said he'd never consider nixing student cellphone use in school-even though some of his teachers have asked him to do so.

Toth said the devices can be a great teaching tool. Educators in his district check for student understanding using cellphone applications like Kahoot, or they send their students on scavenger hunts that also rely on cellphone technology. And the district's instructional-technology coach focuses on teaching students to use their devices responsibly.

"Anybody who wants to ban it is just hiding from reality," Toth said. "It's just common, everyday practice these days that you have a cellphone."

Parents' Big Concerns

Restricting cellphone use is a lot easier said than done. There are big concerns, for instance, about school safety. How could parents get in touch with their children during a school shooting or a dangerous weather event?

One school in Wisconsin had a low-tech solution: Families could call the front office, just like they did before cellphones were so ubiquitous, said Jo-Ellen Fairbanks, the assistant principal of Portage High School, which requires students to keep their cellphones in their lockers during the school day.

And during an emergency, students are best off making sure they concentrate on following through with a safety plan, not staring at their cellphone screens, said Adam Gelb, the assistant principal of San Mateo High School near San Francisco, which recently required students to keep their cellphones in a pouch that renders them inoperable during the school day.

"Nowhere in any [safety protocol] does it say get on your cellphone and notify a family member," he said.

But some parents want to be able to reach their children at any time-even if it means texting them in class, educators say.

Reaction from families to a recent ban on cellphones in the Warwick district near Providence, R.I., has been mixed. Some are supportive. Others "have said, 'You can tell us what to do when you pay our phone bill,' " said Karen Bachus, the chairwoman of the school board.

What's more, enforcing a ban can bring with it its own set of administrative hasssles. The nation's largest school district, New York City, dropped its cellphone ban in 2015, in part because it was being enforced more harshly in lower-income schools than more advantaged ones.

The Marshall school district, in the southwestern corner of Minnesota, also dropped its cellphone ban several years ago.

What the policy largely prompted was kids texting under their desks or hiding their phones under big sweatshirts, said Principal Brian Jones.

A total ban "sounds great, I just don't think it's realistic. I don't like to have unenforceable policies," Jones said.

What's more, he added, "for some students, the anxiety of not having that device with them caused more harm than good. It reminded me of the cartoon [Peanuts and] Charlie Brown and Linus with his blanket."

Now, the district allows students to use their phones after school, during lunch, and at some times during the school day, if it is for educational purposes. "They've got to learn how to self-regulate once they leave us," Jones said.

'Have a Plan, Not a Ban'

That philosophy jibes with recommendations from Common Sense Media, a nonprofit based in San Francisco that focuses on children, technology, and media.

In an April survey, Common Sense found that 80 percent of schools implement some kind of cellphone policy. About a quarter of teachers find cellphone policies difficult to follow, while roughly two-thirds find them easy to follow, according to the survey. High school teachers were more likely to report that implementing cellphone policies was difficult.

Educators should "have a plan, not a ban," said Elizabeth Kline, the organization's vice president for education. "There isn't a real reason to have a ban, but there is absolutely a big need to have clear guidelines and guidance for both students and parents around personal devices."

Cellphones can be an important teaching tool, Kline pointed out. Kids can create their own videos using cellphones, and teachers can integrate special apps for understanding concepts or investigating questions.

There's also a big equity issue, she said. Some students may not have laptops-or even internet connectivity-at home. So their cellphones may be the only way they can complete some technology-focused assignments.

Still, expectations need to be clear.

"If you're using the phone for learning, then the whole class has to agree that they are not going to be snapchatting in the middle of a lesson on velocity," Kline said.

And educators need to make sure they model those behaviors, which means not checking their own text messages during class, she said.

Extremes Miss the Point

Kline emphasized that by absolutely prohibiting cellphones, districts could miss out on an opportunity to teach their students how to use the devices responsibly and in moderation.

"There are moments at school or at home that should be device-free moments," Kline said. "Letting kids go wild with no norms or rules is not the right thing to do. Both extremes are missing the point."

The Novi district, in the Detroit suburbs, strives for that balance.

Cellphones must stay in lockers all day at the middle school and are not allowed in elementary schools. But at the high school level, students are allowed to have phones in class, under limited circumstances. The teacher sets a color-red, for no phones allowed; yellow, which signifies that phones can be out if the class isn't moving forward with new content; and green, which is typically used when the devices are part of a lesson.

To be sure, the district, like most in the country, still sees its share of problems stemming from cellphones, including a lunchroom of students texting each other instead of engaging in conversation. ("Like adults do in restaurants," said Steve Matthews, the superintendent.) But the distict also wants to instill social-media lessons, including showing students how to be careful about what they tweet out or share on social media.

"There are times it would be easier to just ban [phones] altogether, but we don't want to communicate to kids that school isn't relevant to their lives," Matthews said. "We're trying to help them use it in an appropriate and meaningful way."

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Schools Say No to Cellphones in Class. But Is It a Smart Move?

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A flurry of schools have recently put in place restrictions or bans on student cellphones, a pivot away from the more open policies instituted in previous years.

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This article discusses the legal issues among teachers/administrators taking students cell phones away from them. It is quite an aspect not necessarily discussed in regards to this topic. Cell phones are so widely used by so many age ranges, younger students now are having this technology others did not years ago. Some teachers do incorporate cell phones for educational purposes such as games. It is also quick and easy communication for parents to their children in case of an emergency, etc. There is also the negative side with harassment. The debate is whether banning phones in schools is constitutional or not. There has been many court cases even to the extent to the Supreme Court, some ruling this constitutional and some ruling unconstitutional.

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Part three of a series on Technology and the Law.

Allen Clendaniel

When I started practicing law in the fall of 2005, I did not have a cell phone. I didn't need one. Fourteen years later, I don't think I could get through half a day without my trusty iPhone 7.

Today's students all have smartphones. My kids complained that they were the last to get phones because our family had a "wait until middle school" policy. And my kids were right. A 2016 study from the research firm, Influence Central, found the average age for getting a first smartphone is 10.3 years old. Students are getting phones at younger ages and they are all bringing their phones to school.

There are benefits to students' use of cell phones. Many teachers incorporate cell phones and educational apps into their lesson plans. Parents appreciate the convenience of being able to communicate with their children, especially during an emergency. There are also downsides. Phones can be distracting, facilitate cheating, increase sexual harassment through sexting, and increase cyberbullying. The negative effects of smartphones led Anchorage private school Lumen Christi to adopt a cell phone ban this school year. Citing Lumen Christi's ban, the Anchorage Daily News Editorial Board advocated for a ban on cell phones in all Alaska School Districts.

Is such a ban permissible in Alaska's public schools? The Alaska courts have not had the occasion to rule on whether a cell phone ban is constitutional. In New York, parents challenged a complete ban on cell phones. The parents claimed that the ban violated the United States and New York constitutions. The New York state court upheld the cellphone ban. Price v. New York City Bd. of Educ., 51 A.D.3d 277 (1st Dep't 2008). The court remarked that "[n]othing about the cell phone policy forbids or prevents parents and their children from communicating with each other before and after school." The court found that because the cell phone ban "reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns," the policy was constitutional.

Accordingly, it is likely (though not certain) that Alaska courts would find a cell phone ban in public schools to be constitutional. What about a ban on students' use of phones during class? Can a school official take a student's cell phone if a student violates the policy? A court in Arkansas rejected a student's argument that the school policy permitting the confiscation of cell phones was illegal and unconstitutional. In Koch v. Adams, 361 S.W.3d 817, 819 (Ark. 2010), a public-school teacher seized a student's cell phone because the student was using the cellphone during class in violation of the school district's student handbook. Pursuant to the school district's disciplinary regulations, the teacher confiscated the phone. The student asked if he could remove the "SIM" card, which stores personal information, before turning over the phone. The teacher denied that request. The students' parents demanded the return of the phone, but it was kept in storage for two weeks pursuant to district policy. After two weeks, the principal sent the phone to the student's father via certified mail.

Unfortunately for the school district, the student's father was a lawyer. The student sued. Guess who his lawyer was? Dad!

On appeal, the Arkansas Supreme Court held that confiscation policy did not violate Arkansas education statutes and did not violate the student's constitutional due process rights. The Alaska courts have not addressed this issue, but legal precedent would seem to support a cell phone confiscation policy. As my law partner, John Sedor explained in The iPhone 11 - Not your Father's Flip-Phone, however, searching the contents of a confiscated phone is a different story. A school official must make sure he/she has legal grounds to search the contents (pictures, texts, social media, etc) of the phone.

Just as my iPhone 7 has become part of my law practice, mobile devices are becoming a part of young people's lives. Smartphones aren't going away. And educators will have to figure out the best policies to deal with the pervasiveness of smartphones. The legal system is also wrestling with this pervasive new technology. The courts will continue to balance the rights of parents and students and the interest of school administrators to manage the educational setting. The law is always changing, but at this juncture, courts seem willing to enforce well-crafted cell phone policies designed to maximize student success in the classroom.

More of the series on Technology and the Law:
"Are we on the record?" Legal Issues with Recordings in School. The iPhone 11 - Not your Father's Flip-Phone
More from Sedor, Wendlandt, Evans & Filippi, LLC:
E Five-part series: Union Issues in Schools Four-part series: Freedom of Expression in Schools ight-part series: Interacting with the world outside of the schoolhouse gates The views expressed here are the writer's and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Alaska School Boards. AASB welcomes diverse perspectives and civil discourse. To submit a Guest Column for consideration, see our Guest Column Guidelines and email your 400-1000 word submission HERE.
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You can't take my phone! Legal issues related to policies restricting students' mobile devices.

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Part three of a series on Technology and the Law. When I started practicing law in the fall of 2005, I did not have a cell phone. I didn't need one. Fourteen years later, I don't think I could get through half a day without my trusty iPhone 7.

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This article gives a perspective of an actual teacher dealing with this cell phone policy. I think it is quite interesting to hear her experiences and how she sees both sides of the spectrum, the issues and the benefits. She enlightens on when there is a policy enforced and teachers do not follow and still let students go against, then the policy itself is not effective. Again, cell phones can be a distraction with social media and communicating with friends, or even to the point of cheating on assignments or tests. It is also emphasized how cell phones can be beneficial for students who may not have any other form of technology for school work and can be a helpful tool. There can be many positive ways for cell phones to not be a distraction and be incorporated, using pocket charts, a wooden box, a charging station, cell phone daycare. Students will then know their phones are safe. Incorporating positive reinforcement with cell phone usage in classrooms.

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There's a lot to be said about technology, cell phones in particular, in the classroom. On the one hand, students can use them as a learning tool -especially in schools that are not 1:1. On the other hand, cell phones are highly distracting and can impede learning if student use is not strictly enforced.

I've taught at two different schools, and each had a different policy.

My first school had a site-wide cell phone policy. Students were not to use their phones in class. If they did, teachers could confiscate the phone and turn it into the office. Students or parents would then pick up the device after school. It worked, somewhat. You see, it wasn't followed and enforced uniformly on campus. Some teachers allowed student cell phone use (not just for academic purposes), and other teachers did not. Since every single teacher wasn't on board, the policy wasn't effective.

Furthermore, students knew that if they put up enough of a fight, nothing would happen. For example, at my old school, I tried my best to follow the school policy consistently. One day, a student refused to hand over her phone. I explained that she was now acting defiantly as well. She still refused. I called security to have her escorted to the office. The student was escorted out of my classroom and taken to her counselor. (Yes, this is overkill, and this was in my earlier teaching days. I genuinely believe that such action is more disruptive to the classroom than a student being on their phone. This was one of those learning and reflective experiences for me). The student refused to give her phone to the counselor, to the assistant principal, and then she even refused to hand her phone over to the school resource officer -a Sheriff's Deputy!

Now, this was right around the time when a video went viral showing a school resource officer using excessive force against a teenage girl in the classroom for the same thing. Since my student did not allow our school's deputy to take the phone, she returned to class without any consequences whatsoever -with her phone in her hand.

School cell phone policies only work if they are uniformly enforced on campus. Teachers, administration, school support staff, and even parents have to be on board -and that is asking a lot.

My current school has a district-wide policy. According to the handbook, students are allowed to have phones on and in class, but they cannot use them for personal reasons (texting, social media, etc.). However, it is up to individual teachers to not only enforce that policy but also to police student cell phone use. Without consistent consequences across a school's campus, it is a losing battle. And in a way, we as an educational society should be teaching proper tech use rather than monitoring and policing cell phones in the classroom.

As a teacher, I've seen the detrimental effect cell phones have on students. I started my teaching career at a time when only a couple of students had phones, but data was much too expensive for them to use them in class. Now, students are less engaged, more likely to listen to music during instructional time, and have shorter attention spans. A lesson on proper semicolon usage simply cannot compete with the temptation of cell phones, alerts, notifications, group chats, social media, and YouTube. Adding to the negativity, cell phone use amongst students has also drastically increased cheating and copying, it can hinder student sleep, and student cell phone use can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety. However, we needn't dwell on the negatives.

I've also seen the value that cell phones can bring to education. Students who might not have access to computers at home can type and submit essays on their phones. Students can quickly look up some information and verify its validity. Furthermore, students can also use their cell phones to collaborate with their peers.

Cell phones can be a powerful education tool. However, students need to know when they should and should not be allowed to use their phones. Furthermore, schools need to enforce policies on campus so that teachers are supported uniformly, learning can take place, and students have a sense of consistency.

Classroom Cell Phone Policies

A while back, I posted an Instagram story about student cell phone use, and I was overwhelmed by the responses I received. I shared my frustration with fellow educators. Some sympathized and related, and others offered great advice.

There are many ways to handle student cell phone use in the classroom. And while cell phones can be used for educational purposes, let's be real. Many students also check social media, post content, text, watch videos, and participate in group chats during class. With that said, I've outlined several classroom cell phone policies and practices to try in your classroom. This post contains affiliate links. While they are of no extra cost to you, I may receive a small kickback for referring you to these items.

Pocket Charts

Out of all of the cell phone solutions I've seen, the pocket chart is by far one of my most common solutions. At the beginning of class, students come in and place their cell phones in their designated space in the pocket chart.

Teaching high school, I can have up to 36 students in my classroom. That's why I love this pocket holder that is already numbered, and it has spaces for 36 phones!

Wooden Storage Box

Another option is storing cell phones in a wooden box. One advantage the wooden box has over the hanging pocket organizer is that, if placed in a secure location, the box will not fall. Some teachers have a concern that the hanging pocket charts might be too heavy with the weight of 36 phones and fall. These wooden boxes, while a bit more expensive, solve that solution.

This wooden box has a dedicated space for 24 phones.

This wooden box is ideal for the high school classroom because it has 36 dedicated spaces for phones.

And while we are on the subject of storing student phones, this cell phone storage cabinet is an absolute dream. It can be mounted on the wall, it has a transparent door so students can see their phones inside, and it comes with a key so that devices can be locked inside the cabinet for the entire class period. It truly is a dream. However, with its hefty price tag, this solution should be more of a district or a school purchase.

How to Implement the Pocket Chart or Cell Phone Box

With these solutions, the pocket charts or the wooden boxes, you can hold students accountable in a couple of different ways. One way would be to take attendance using the cell phone holder. Students who do not place their phones in the holders are marked either absent or tardy. For this option, you'll want to check with admin because it could impede average daily attendance and funding if you teach at a public school.

If you can't use attendance as an accountability tool, you could use participation points. You can make placing their phone in the boxes a classroom grade, or you can offer extra credit points as accountability. Whichever you choose, make sure you follow your school's guidelines for grades.

Charging Stations

Another excellent option for storing student cell phones in the classroom is to provide students with a cell phone charging station. By providing students with a place to charge their cell phones, they are much more likely to put the devices away and out of sight for the class period.

There are quite a few different ways to create a cell phone charging station in your classroom. One of the easiest ways is to utilize a surge protector that has additional outlets and USB charging ports. This option is great because it provides a dedicated space for students to charge their phone.

Another option is to use a dedicated phone charging system. This cell phone charging station comes with the cords already, and it holds six and charges six phones at once.

However, you might need more space. After all, our class sizes can be pretty high. The most students I've ever had in a single class was 38. It was tough, and it was also my first year of teaching.

This charging station holds and charges ten phones at once.

Cell Phone Daycare/Cell Phone Jail

One management tool that works well in conjunction with the charging stations is a cell phone jail. If students opt not to charge their phones and use them in class instead, their phones get sent to jail -or daycare. Using the term daycare might be a little less harsh.

Positive Enforcement

Most of the solutions mentioned above rely on negative reinforcement. If that isn't your classroom management style, there are a variety of positive reinforcement strategies to try in the classroom. I tried Pocket Points (not a paid endorsement or sponsorship) at the end of the last semester, and I had a pretty good experience with it.

Allowing Cell Phone Use

Allowing cell phone use in the classroom can be beneficial if teachers can manage smart student cell phone use in the classroom. Smart cell phone use includes allowing students to check their phones during independent work. And likewise, students also know not to engage with their phones during instruction time and group work.

Another form of allowing students to use cell phones in the classroom is by incorporating designated cell phone breaks into the instruction time. Anecdotally, if students know they will be given a three-minute cell phone break in the middle of the class, they might be less likely to sneak cell phone use during class time.

Whichever cell phone policy you decide to adopt in your classroom, consistency is critical. You'll want to stick with the policy and enforce it uniformly. However, and I've been there, sometimes classroom policies just don't work. It is okay to abandon a classroom policy if it doesn't work for you, your classroom, and your students.

I've found that the best time to change classroom policies is either at the semester or quarter breaks. If you do choose to switch policies in the middle of the year, you'll want to communicate those changes with your stakeholders: students, parents, and maybe admin as well.

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Cell Phones and Instruction: Classroom Policies That Work

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There's a lot to be said about technology, cell phones in particular, in the classroom. On the one hand, students can use them as a learning tool -especially in schools that are not 1:1. On the other hand, cell phones are highly distracting and can impede learning if student use is not strictly enforced.

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This YouTube video sheds light upon a school that has developed a cell phone policy that does not take away the cell phone in the norm. This school discovered Yondr. Yondr is a pouch that locks up and can be unlocked by a huge magnet. Each student has their own pouch in which they can carry but is locked from the beginning of the school day to the end. The school wanted to avoid the distractions, the students take away from living in the moment. Give them a break from social media where research has show to negatively effect students tremendously. Students discuss the frustration at first, but intend the actual benefits. Interactions are at a high, there is no longer the temptation or distraction. Even their concentration to focus has helped with Yondr.

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From all of the articles I have read on cell phone policies in schools, there are many benefits as well as cons of cell phone usage in classrooms. It is hard to truly say what the right thing to do is. I think the idea of teaching students how to use technology properly, use positive reinforcements. In both scenarios with phones banned or not there is always going to be an issue. If teachers know to use technology effectively, students should be taught to use effiencetly. Maybe it should be based on every teacher on what they want to do, everyone is going to have their own opinion, like an article says if there's a policy set in place and one teacher goes against it, doing what they want, it is an ineffective policy. It is a constant struggle it seems, it is hard to say what is right, that is why is it should be up to the teacher in the classroom and what they believe is effective for their own personal classroom.

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The common debate on cell phones in schools.

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The common debate on cell phones in schools.

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This article highlights upon common issues and benefits on the cell phone policy. Cell phones tend to have more of a negative background, as well as a distraction. It shed lights upon ideals of the issue going beyond just the teachers/principal and students, to the point of parent involvement. This issue can go to interrupting the students parents while they could be working or etc, when they may not have the time with their busy day to manage this.