Anne Arundel County schools crack down on cellphone use, hope for more student productivity
BALTIMORE - Anne Arundel County Public Schools is cracking down on cellphone use to get more productivity from students in the classroom.
Elementary and middle school students must have their phones off or in silent mode and out of sight throughout the school day, including at lunch and in hallways during transitions between classes.
High school students may use their phones during lunch but must have them off or in silent mode and out of sight at all other times, including in hallways during transitions between classes.
"I want to be clear that this is not a ban on cell phones like other districts across the country have done," said Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell. "These are changes in guidelines as part of an effort to refocus precious time on instruction, which is something everyone we spoke with agreed is critically important. I have complete faith that our students, provided with the right structure, will do the right thing. However, as the Superintendent, I will not hesitate to have further conversations with the school board and the community about a total ban should that become necessary."
According to the school district, students who use cellphones outside of the guidelines will "receive progressive discipline, beginning with a warning and moving – if necessary – to the confiscation of their phone and potential other disciplinary measures."
Confiscated phones will need to be picked up by a parent or guardian.
Teacher's union supports policy
The Teacher's Association of Anne Arundel County says it supports the guidance but is looking forward to a firm policy that is being established by the board of education.
Eliminating classroom distractions is top of mind for the union.
President Kristina Korona says some of her colleagues left teaching because cell phones were taking over in the classroom.
"It's partly changing habits of parents and how they contact their students, and how students contact their families, you know. What does the student do when they need to reach out during the day? What's, what is, how is that handled? I think all of that's the questions that educators have right now," Korona said.
Debate on cellphones
This news was widely discussed on social media. On WJZ's Facebook page, some people applauded the district saying cellphones are a distraction from classroom learning.
Others expressed concerns that students wouldn't be able to reach their families in an emergency.
"How is handled?"
As for enforcement, the guidelines from the superintendent say it will be scaled, beginning with a warning and escalating to confiscating the phone and requiring a parent to pick it up.
"The concern is, when that student doesn't follow the expectation of the phone away, how is it handled? Is that just the teacher? Will they have administrators?" Korona added.
Students are set to return to school at the end of August. Teachers will be returning to work this week to learn the new policies and procedures for the year.
