Across America, schools are agonizing over what to do about cell phones.
Greens Farms Academy has made a decision. When school starts next month, they’ll be banned during school hours.
And smart watches, too.
The announcement came in a message to Upper School families and students this week, from head of school Bob Whelan.
He cited 2 reasons: the devices’ disruption of students’ focus and learning, and their “obstacle to our collective ability to create a more fully engaged learning community, especially one committed to connection and student well-being.”
Whelan notes, “despite real efforts to resist their pull, cell phones/smartwatches capture and hold attention with potent efficiency. Too often, this impedes students’ ability to be present and fully engaged in developing important relationships at school.
Studying hard? Or hardly studying?
“Additionally, while we recognize the many benefits of these devices, their pervasive presence throughout the academic day can significantly disrupt attention, eroding student focus and learning. Research shows that limiting cell phone use during school hours leads to better academic outcomes, a greater sense of student well-being, and a more positive school climate.”
After talking with schools that have adopted phone-free environments — and seen improvement in learning and engagement — GFA formulated a plan.
The school will provide each Upper School student with a Yondr pouch. As they enter the building, a staff member will lock their devices inside.
Students will keep the locked, magnetic storage bags in their backpack or locker, until the end of the day. As they leave, staff members — stationed at various exits — will unlock them.
Each student is responsible for bringing his or her Yondr pouch to and from school every day.
As Greens Farms Academy students stream into school this fall, they’ll begin a new routine: turning off, then locking their phones.
“We recognize that adapting to a cell phone/smartwatch-free environment will take some time for both students and parents,” Whelan wrote.
“We also understand that circumstances will arise that require parents to reach their child during the school day. Please be assured that parents can utilize the Upper School Office to pass on messages to students in a timely manner.”
Yesterday, Whelan expanded on the decision.
“My thinking has evolved,” he admitted.
“I used to think, ‘technology will be a feature of these kids’ lives. How can we help them understand and use it?'”
Greens Farms Academy head of school Bob Whelan
Over the past couple of years, however, he has been “haunted” by the realization that app developers engineer their products in an “incredibly compelling” way.
“We have a big responsibility to teenagers, at this crucial developmental stage when their brains are wiring themselves in the most significant way since they were toddlers,” he said.
“I don’t envy kids. They’re trying to develop relationships and skills, while competing with this incredibly powerful device.”
As he, his administrators, and GFA counselors, staff and athletic director studied the issue, they realized “it’s almost like kids are being held hostage to their devices. And we’re not serving them well if we enable this.”
Schools that have already implemented no-phone policies offered “reassurance,” Whelan said. “When everyone was away from their devices together, everyone felt better.”
After, of course, an initial “adaptation phase” of 1 1/2 to 2 weeks. Students at those schools “grudgingly” admitted they were glad to give up their phones.
And, Whelan was told, “schools become louder. As an educator, you should want that.”
Speaking of noise: GFA is thinking about students’ free time, without phones.
They’ve bought ping pong, spikeball, and board games like Uno. They’ll rely on the Student Council to come up with other ideas.
Anything is on the table — anything, that is, that involves eye contact and developing relationships.
When Whelan sent out his email, he added Frequently Asked Questions to address emergencies.
“All classrooms and offices have a phone that can call 911,” the document says.
“During classroom orientation, we will ensure that students are aware of the location of landline phones and what to do in the event of an emergency. Additional phones are available outside of the classrooms and throughout the building.”
It adds that school protocols “have been designed in partnership with local law enforcement and emergency services and are based on research and best practice related to school safety.
“The best thinking about safety, and common sense, recommends that students do not make individual calls, send texts, take videos or pictures, or engage in any other activities on their cell phones during an emergency.”
Students with a medical condition that is monitored via a phone or watch can work with the school nurse, GFA says.
Addressing concerns of parents whose youngsters “check in” with them during the day, the school offers some gentle advice:
Providing students with the opportunity to navigate the peaks and valleys of the academic day helps to build resilience — a valuable learning opportunity unto itself. We encourage students to partner with trusted adults in the Upper School to address challenges that may arise during a school day.
School counselors will help students — and parents — with the “skills and resources needed to navigate this transition.”
As for students who use phones to access their schedules, GFA notes: “All schedules are available in Veracross, which is accessible to each student through any computer.”
Another recommendation: printing out 2 copies of the schedule, one for themselves, another for their lockers.
Sometimes a high-tech problem can have a very low-tech solution.
New policy in place, at the Beachside Avenue school.
(“06880” covers education, technology, teenage life — and sometimes, like today, they all intersect. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support this hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
