Schools Get Creative In Their Fight Against The Relentless Influence Of Smartphones

From confiscating devices to locking phones away during class, schools across the U.S. and around the world are still trying to figure out how to limit student access to the often disruptive and addictive appeal of technology.

A few common tactics

This isn’t a new problem for educators and administrators, but it’s becoming more unavoidable as tech creeps into an increasing array of devices.

And administrators generally implement strategies on their own, resulting in a patchwork of policies that can vary greatly from one school to another.

Some of the most ways schools are responding include:

• Lock and key: Whether stored in a locker or a secured pouch under the teacher’s control, many schools require students who bring a device to school to put it in an approved location during times when use is prohibited.
• Offering alternatives: Smartphones are often more attractive to students when they’re bored, so some schools are implementing a range of new extracurricular activities or increased time outdoors to compete with the allure of those devices.
• Parental outreach: At the end of the day, it’s a child’s guardians who have the most influence on their choices. That’s why schools are making targeted pleas with parents to instill a healthier relationship with technology at home.

More than a distraction

The obvious reasons for limiting or banning the use of smartphones in school are obvious: they can help students cheat and disrupt the learning process. But teachers say there’s a deeper, perhaps more insidious reason that easy access to such tech is a bad idea in schools.

One English teacher recently lamented that student participation has plummeted in his class because kids are afraid to say anything that might spark backlash in a schoolwide messaging app and result in them being “canceled” or ostracized by their peers.

Chris Agee August 27th, 2024

Share this story: