This morning’s “06880” Opinion piece from the Staples High School PTA executive board — opposing superintendent of school Thomas Scarice’s proposed full ban on cellphones in Westport Public Schools — drew plenty of public comments, on all sides of the issue.
It also drew a private email, from a longtime Staples teacher. The teacher used their name but requested anonymity, due to district regulations about posting on social media. The teacher writes:
There is most certainly a problem at Staples with cell phones. That parents are relying on students saying that there is not a problem is laughable.
I urge any parent to have an honest conversation with a Staples teacher. You would hear the exact opposite.
Students are completely addicted to their phones. As a teacher who strictly enforces the putting of phones in the holder for all classes (grades 9-12), I can say without a doubt that every single day I encounter resistance from students, even though my stance and policy on phones has not changed since the first day of school, or within the last 5 years.
Every week I confiscate phones, bring them down to the assistant principals’ office, email/call home, and follow up with the admin after class.
Cell phone holder.
The reason many teachers do not enforce the phone holders is that it is exhausting. No matter how consistent teachers are with their phone policies, the students are extremely resistant (and unfortunately somewhat rude) to giving them up, even during a class.
Having taught at Staples for over 20 years, I can say that phones have no positive impact on the school day.
I understand that students and parents feel that students will have difficulty navigating their schedules. Students are unaware of their schedules precisely due to the Saturn app. Before Saturn, my students always knew their schedules. They either had them printed out or they had them memorized over time. There was never an issue with students not knowing where they were going.
If students could use phones responsibly we would not be here. But every day students are sneaking phones, leaving class under the guise of having to use the bathroom and then scrolling through social media. I see it every single day here at Staples.
Phones are specifically designed to be addictive. Our students are being asked to monitor their use against a device that is using their own brains to work against what is best for them.
Every notification excites — and distracts — students.
I implore all parents to support the superintendent’s proposed ban on phones at Staples. Your children are not benefiting at all by having access to their phones throughout the school day.
We are doing a disservice to them. I deeply hope the community will come together to realize what is best for these students.