Educators share approaches and strategies regarding cell phone policies

Amidst ongoing conversations about student dependence on technology in schools, many educators shared personal views and strategies for approaching cell phone restrictions in classrooms and schools. Some educators feel supported by administration in these policies, while others do not. In addition to cell phone policies, educators express frustration at feeling as though they compete with cell phones for students’ focus and engagement. 

  • “The only place you will see a cell phone at my school is at the door when students put them away. This message brought to you by: It’s not that hard/leaders are the ones allowing phones into schools/just fully ban them.” —Instructional Coach and Teacher in Seattle
    • “Can I ask what you mean by phone ban? No phones are allowed in the building?  Phones must be in lockers? No phones out during class time?” —STEM Teacher, N/A
      • “Away and turned off. For us, away means in backpacks, which they carry the whole day with them.” —Instructional Coach and Teacher in Seattle
    • “We confiscate phones if we see them, and the phone goes to the office. I think students can retrieve the phone once, and parents must pick up the phone after that. We’ve been consistent, and it works. But everyone has to be on board, and administration [must be] willing to stand firm!” —Teacher, N/A
      • “My experience with this policy was it created a power struggle with kids who didn’t want to relinquish phones. I shifted my policy in class so kids can put their phones on my desk for the period but they get them back when the bell rings. Has worked great.” —Math Teacher, N/A
    • “It’s a lot easier for teachers to implement the pouch system when it’s an administrative mandate that everyone in the building is expected to comply with. It falls apart when it becomes individual systems or ‘teacher discretion.’” —High School English Teacher in Massachusetts
    • “I have a phone pocket on my room door. And it’s required. Still phones happen. Less, but still happens. I don’t think acting like it’s as simple as telling kids to put it away and that’s that is helpful. At all, really.” —Spanish Language Teacher, N/A
  • “Me: Wow, cell phones are such a problem in the classroom. Them: Just have students check phones at the front of your room but be sure to monitor the $35,000 worth of tech up there because now you’re on the hook if something gets broken or goes missing. Me: Yeah I will not be doing that.” —Middle School Teacher in Georgia
    • “Exactly why I never collected phones even when we were told to. Not that any admin actually enforced the policy anyways.” —Educator, N/A
    • “No way am I taking their devices; not without a written statement that I’m not liable for anything that goes missing.” —High School Teacher in Canada
    • “I will keep advocating for pouches for cell phones. My school implemented the Yondr pouches this year for all grades and it has helped tremendously in the classroom. Do kids get around it and sneak off to text in the bathroom? Yea, but classroom culture has definitely improved.” —Teacher in New York
    • “We could also have the space, time, and support to figure out how to make being in class with you more engaging than what’s in their phone. Like by figuring out what’s important to them and helping them learn the machinations behind that thing. Even if you don’t know yourself.” —Educator, N/A
  • “Just got an email from a parent today asking that we do not allow him to ‘be on his phone, have his head down or otherwise just not engage in class.’ He’s had a single digit average all year and they are still letting him bring his phone to school.” —Teacher, N/A
    • “The crazy thing is, our district and school would say they are not allowed. But all the responsibility for enforcement is on the teachers, who are not super consistent about it, and if you tried to be, it’s all you would ever do unless we really changed expectations.” —Teacher, N/A
  • “Devices and unlimited social media access make teaching really hard and students’ ability to focus is heavily impacted but we’re not competing with cellphones in our classrooms, friends. ” —High School ELA Teacher in Texas
    • “Just imagine my plight as a virtual teacher. My Nearpod lessons are in a constant battle with Tik Tok, Fortnite, and YouTube. I think I won today!” —Teacher in South Carolina
    • “I find the biggest problem, not necessarily the constant distraction on their cell phones, but that they pull them out every chance they have an extra five seconds of nothing. It acts as a full memory dump for whatever activity they’re working on.” —High School English Teacher, N/A
    • “Ugh the sad truth. The constant and instant access to not just news but media in all forms and literal propaganda while severely lacking ability and skill set to understand it.” —Social Studies Teacher in Texas