School Bans Students from Using Cell Phones

Math and reading lessons proving to be no match for cell phones. The local middle school says handheld devices have become so distracting that next year they're making a very drastic change. We want teachers to spend their time teaching. We want our kids to spend their time learning. So how about this? Students will have to surrender their phones at the door. Good evening. Thanks for joining us. I'm Al Thomas. I'm Monique Minglovan and Kairos Evans. Gwen Baumgartner joins us now from Hamilton International Middle School. And Gwen, many parents and educators there tell you this is necessary. We watched a school let out here just a few hours ago. Nearly every single student coming out those doors had one of these attached to their palm. Well, the principal here says that cell phones have become one of the biggest challenges to learning, but maybe not for long. He would watch YouTube and play with his cell phone all the time if he could. A group of parents at this Seattle school telling us kids shouldn't be left to their own devices. I mean, even adults have a hard time not being on their phones. So to expect kids to do it on their own. I think it's a tall order for middle school. So the PTSA, the school's parent teacher association, began looking for a solution, a way to re engage learners and crack down on cell phones. Enter Yonder, an international company creating the specialized pouches. At the beginning of the school day, students will be required to put their devices into this sealed bag, unable to access their phones until the school day ends and this device unlocks the seal. Yonder now curbing classroom cell phone use at more than 1000 schools around the world. Parents intrigued. We found the research on these particular pouches really compelling. Like not just a little bit compelling, but really compelling. The company reports an 83% increase in student behavior and a 65% increase in academic behavior from participating schools. The biggest concerns from those we spoke with? Staying in touch during an emergency. Last week's Garfield School shooting, a dark reminder of the uncertainty students face. The school says landline phones will remain in classrooms and teachers will have their own cell phones on hand. Many parents telling me the benefits of this pouch outweigh their concerns. We want teachers to spend their time teaching. We want our kids to spend their time learning. And yeah, this is just another tool in the toolbox. And it seems to be a really effective 1. The PTSA here is phrasing all of the money for these pouches. It's not part of district policy. It's being left up to the individual schools that we're told. At least two other schools in Seattle plan to implement these pouches as well next year. Reporting in Seattle, Gwen Baumgartner, Cairo 7 News.