Latest Issue: June 30, 2022
Crane High School to ban cell phone usage in the classroom
Crane R-3 will implement the new electronics ban in the 2022-2023 school year.
Kadee Brosseau DeCourley
Parents of Crane School District students received notice last week that changes were coming to the district’s cell phone and electronic device policy in the 2022-2023 school year.
According to the new policy, “cell phones, smart watches, earbuds, digital cameras and similar devices are banned during the instructional day.”
“After reading Glow Kids, looking at studies, and meeting with staff, it was decided it was in our students' best interest to make a change in our cell phone policy,” Superintendent Dr. Chris Johnson said.
Glow Kids is a book that presents research-based facts about the negative impacts of technology, such as excessive cell phone usage, on students’ development and education.
The new cell phone policy at Crane School requires that students leave devices at home, in vehicles, or check them into the office, in a secure location, each morning. According to the district, the goal of the policy change is to promote education, while allowing students to focus on learning.
“This change will help our students in multiple ways. It will help eliminate bullying through social media at school. It will help students reconnect and use soft skills, such as holding conversations. It will reduce cheating on school tests and school work,” Dr. Johnson said.
“We know this will be a change, but it is a change that is much needed for our students and their education. Students have utilized their personal electronics for many things that have led to this policy change, including but not limited to inappropriate videos, cheating on educational assignments, and above all, bullying and harassment by means of social media. Our hope is to teach our students to invest in themselves and their education, disconnecting from the grip that mobile devices play on their lives,” High School Principal Daniel Davis said in a letter that was sent home to parents.
The school’s announcement prompted a variety of responses from both locals and people from outside of Crane on social media. Some disagreed, saying parents not having direct contact with their children at all times was a safety concern. Others agreed, saying the decision will help students focus better in the classroom.
“I think the new cell phone policy is exactly what these kids need- more learning and less screen time,” Parent Angie Groom said. “I feel having phones is a distraction. Texting friends and parents while at school just keeps them from focusing on school work.”
Groom has two girls who attend school at Crane, a freshman and a senior.
“Our girls don't see a problem with the policy,” Groom said.
According to the new policy, “the best way [for parents to] contact their child is through the office with changes to their normal bus/pick-up routine and other types of important messages.” Each classroom will also have phones to be used in cases of emergencies.
“We are putting in a new phone system this summer. There will be a phone in every room with unlimited lines out and students can always go to the office to call home if needed. Parents can call the office if they need to speak to their child also,” Dr. Johnson explained.
Groom said the change in policy does not make her concerned that she will not be able to get in touch with her children in a timely manner.
“Calling the school has always been the way to communicate throughout the years. Yes, I have texted my child while she's at school and I realize this is just interrupting my child's learning,” Groom said. “I hope that the school follows through with the policy. We have a great school and I believe this will shift our kids into working hard to achieve better grades and maybe not have so much homework to do at night.”
Another local parent said she disagrees with aspects of the new policy. Tana Shirley lives in the district and has a child who is not yet school-aged. She believes the school could lessen cell phone usage without banning them altogether.
“I respect what the administration of the school is trying to do with the new policy but I don’t find it to be very realistic,” Shirley explained. “I don’t believe having cell phones at school is the issue. I believe it’s the way the faculty at the school decides to enforce the rules during class.”
Shirley also raised concerns about technology that is school-issued to students for educational uses. Students’ ChromeBook devices are equipped with blocks that are designed to limit what students can do online.
“[Cheating and bullying] can still be done with the ChromeBooks that every student has,” Shirley said.
Even though each classroom will be equipped with its own phone, Shirley believes students not having direct contact with their parents could be a safety concern during emergency situations.
“In a situation of an active shooter, a child’s cell phone could be the difference between life or death. It could be the source of locating not only the children that are safe or injured but also where the shooter is and any details that law enforcement on the outside might find useful. A cell phone could also be the source of the last call between a parent and child, the last time they get to say ‘I love you.’ So I do agree that it could be a safety concern. I know I would want my daughter to have a direct line of contact to me if something bad ever happened,” Shirley said.
Dr. Johnson said other districts have explored the idea of banning cell phone usage in the classroom.
“I have already had some superintendents tell me they are watching our district to see how it goes; so yes I believe it could catch on in other schools,” Dr. Johnson said.
The district said the punishment for violating the new policy will result in the phone being taken away with a parent required to pick it up, on first offense. The second offense will result in ISD/OSD.
Parents may apply for exceptions to this policy for their child. Those applications must be approved by the administration. Reasons for exceptions may include medical issues. If an exception is approved by administration, the phone will still remain in office during the school day.
Parents of Crane School District students received notice last week that changes were coming to the district’s cell phone and electronic device policy in the 2022-2023 school year.
According to the new policy, “cell phones, smart watches, earbuds, digital cameras and similar devices are banned during the instructional day.”
“After reading Glow Kids, looking at studies, and meeting with staff, it was decided it was in our students' best interest to make a change in our cell phone policy,” Superintendent Dr. Chris Johnson said.
Glow Kids is a book that presents research-based facts about the negative impacts of technology, such as excessive cell phone usage, on students’ development and education.
The new cell phone policy at Crane School requires that students leave devices at home, in vehicles, or check them into the office, in a secure location, each morning. According to the district, the goal of the policy change is to promote education, while allowing students to focus on learning.
“This change will help our students in multiple ways. It will help eliminate bullying through social media at school. It will help students reconnect and use soft skills, such as holding conversations. It will reduce cheating on school tests and school work,” Dr. Johnson said.
“We know this will be a change, but it is a change that is much needed for our students and their education. Students have utilized their personal electronics for many things that have led to this policy change, including but not limited to inappropriate videos, cheating on educational assignments, and above all, bullying and harassment by means of social media. Our hope is to teach our students to invest in themselves and their education, disconnecting from the grip that mobile devices play on their lives,” High School Principal Daniel Davis said in a letter that was sent home to parents.
The school’s announcement prompted a variety of responses from both locals and people from outside of Crane on social media. Some disagreed, saying parents not having direct contact with their children at all times was a safety concern. Others agreed, saying the decision will help students focus better in the classroom.
“I think the new cell phone policy is exactly what these kids need- more learning and less screen time,” Parent Angie Groom said. “I feel having phones is a distraction. Texting friends and parents while at school just keeps them from focusing on school work.”
Groom has two girls who attend school at Crane, a freshman and a senior.
“Our girls don't see a problem with the policy,” Groom said.
According to the new policy, “the best way [for parents to] contact their child is through the office with changes to their normal bus/pick-up routine and other types of important messages.” Each classroom will also have phones to be used in cases of emergencies.
“We are putting in a new phone system this summer. There will be a phone in every room with unlimited lines out and students can always go to the office to call home if needed. Parents can call the office if they need to speak to their child also,” Dr. Johnson explained.
Groom said the change in policy does not make her concerned that she will not be able to get in touch with her children in a timely manner.
“Calling the school has always been the way to communicate throughout the years. Yes, I have texted my child while she's at school and I realize this is just interrupting my child's learning,” Groom said. “I hope that the school follows through with the policy. We have a great school and I believe this will shift our kids into working hard to achieve better grades and maybe not have so much homework to do at night.”
Another local parent said she disagrees with aspects of the new policy. Tana Shirley lives in the district and has a child who is not yet school-aged. She believes the school could lessen cell phone usage without banning them altogether.
“I respect what the administration of the school is trying to do with the new policy but I don’t find it to be very realistic,” Shirley explained. “I don’t believe having cell phones at school is the issue. I believe it’s the way the faculty at the school decides to enforce the rules during class.”
Shirley also raised concerns about technology that is school-issued to students for educational uses. Students’ ChromeBook devices are equipped with blocks that are designed to limit what students can do online.
“[Cheating and bullying] can still be done with the ChromeBooks that every student has,” Shirley said.
Even though each classroom will be equipped with its own phone, Shirley believes students not having direct contact with their parents could be a safety concern during emergency situations.
“In a situation of an active shooter, a child’s cell phone could be the difference between life or death. It could be the source of locating not only the children that are safe or injured but also where the shooter is and any details that law enforcement on the outside might find useful. A cell phone could also be the source of the last call between a parent and child, the last time they get to say ‘I love you.’ So I do agree that it could be a safety concern. I know I would want my daughter to have a direct line of contact to me if something bad ever happened,” Shirley said.
Dr. Johnson said other districts have explored the idea of banning cell phone usage in the classroom.
“I have already had some superintendents tell me they are watching our district to see how it goes; so yes I believe it could catch on in other schools,” Dr. Johnson said.
The district said the punishment for violating the new policy will result in the phone being taken away with a parent required to pick it up, on first offense. The second offense will result in ISD/OSD.
Parents may apply for exceptions to this policy for their child. Those applications must be approved by the administration. Reasons for exceptions may include medical issues. If an exception is approved by administration, the phone will still remain in office during the school day.