Richland schools start cracking down on cell phones for kids in classes. Here’s why
Some Tri-City schools are cracking down on cellphone use in an attempt to improve student mental health and prevent bullying, as well as to refocus the school day around learning.
Three schools in Richland School District plan to pilot new guidelines.
Hanford High School and Richland High School students will only be able to use phones between classes, and before and after school. Enterprise Middle School students meanwhile will practice an “away for the day” policy, where phones will be kept off and in their backpacks from the first to last bell.
If successful, these efforts could influence district wide action.
“They were excited to try this out,” Superintendent Shelley Redinger said at the Aug. 13 school board meeting.
Meanwhile, phones will be restricted during instruction time at Pasco High School and Chiawana High School. Like their Richland peers, those students will still be allowed to use them during passing periods and at lunchtime.
“These guidelines were implemented to help improve focus and engagement in the classroom and contribute to a healthier learning environment,” wrote Anna Tensmeyer, Pasco School District’s director of public affairs, in an email.
Since last year, Pasco middle schools have required their students to keep phones stowed in their backpacks at all times while on campus, a move that mirrors Enterprise’s effort. That rule will continue into the 2024-25 school year.
“We’ve seen positive impacts, particularly at the middle school level, and we’re looking forward to seeing how the changes at the high school level support our students’ academic success and overall well-being,” Tensmeyer wrote.
Kennewick School District has restricted student use of “personal electronic devices,” including cellphones, during instruction since 2022. But teachers can grant students permission to use their phones if it’s part of the lesson.
Most schools across the U.S. have had policies on the books for years now. But a new wave of cellphone bans and restrictions pushed by teachers, principals and lawmakers in recent months hope to drive student focus back on instruction and away from digital distractions like TikTok and Instagram.
The new school year begins next week for tens of thousands of K-12 students in the Tri-Cities. Pasco and Richland will begin returning to class on Tuesday, Aug. 27, and all Kennewick students will return Wednesday, Aug. 28.
State bans and research
In the last couple years, seven states have either adopted policies or statewide restrictions on cellphone usage for students while either on campus or during class time. Those are Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia, according to Education Week.
The new policies and laws vary. For example, a Minnesota law tasked the state’s school principal association with creating “best practices” and says school districts should adopt policies by March, while an updated Louisiana law requires students to keep phones in their backpacks until the end of the school day.
Earlier this year, the Washington Legislature considered a bill that would have piloted cellphone restrictions in some schools, tasked the Washington State School Directors’ Association with developing model policy, and eventually required school districts to adopt a policy “restricting student mobile device use” during class time.
House Bill 2018, sponsored by state Rep. Stephanie McClintock, R-Vancouver, failed to make it out of House Appropriations despite having bipartisan support.
Teachers say students are more distracted than ever, and cellphones are often a leading cause.
Nearly three-quarters of high school teachers say students being distracted by cellphones is a “major problem” in their classroom, according to a November survey from the Pew Research Center. The share of middle and elementary school teachers who shared the same sentiment in the survey was 33% and 6%, respectively.
About 82% of K-12 teachers across the country say their school has a cellphone use policy, with a majority saying it’s “very” or “somewhat” easy to enforce.
But about 70% of teens say there are generally more benefits than downsides to them using smartphones, according to the Pew study, with half also saying smartphones make it easier to do well in school.
Several years of research has shown unregulated cellphone usage is detrimental to the mental health, focus and socialization of kids and teenagers, with reports showing that social media can leave them especially stressed, depressed and burdened.
The Away For The Day campaign claims students who put their phone away during the school day are more engaged, often show higher test scores and are at lower risk for depression or suicide.
One multi-country study from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, claims it can take a student up to 20 minutes to refocus on their subjects after simply glancing at their smartphone.
Children can also develop a separation anxiety to their devices known as “nomophobia,” as well as an addiction to the internet. These issues have the potential to impact a student’s overall academic performance.
“This form of anxiety is often linked to receiving negative feedback or cyber-bullying from peers, becoming more aware of stressful events occurring in other people’s lives and internalizing the pressure to maintain social network updates,” reads one Hungarian research article. “It is also possible that using such platforms is used as a coping mechanism for people struggling with anxiety or depression.”
But cellphones can also act as valuable learning tools for students, and many parents feel comforted knowing they have a direct communication line to their child.
Tri-Cities changes
“Under our new policy, cell phones/personal devices will be stowed away from bell to bell,” reads a letter sent to Enterprise families.
“This includes during lunch and in the hallways during passing periods. If you need to contact your student during the school day you can contact the main office and we will get a hold of your student for you. Students will also have access to school phones in the offices should they need to call their parent/guardian,” the letter continues.
Students who violate the new policy on first and second offense will take their device to the front office where they can pick it up at the end of the school day.
Further violations of the new cellphone guidance could result in a conference with the principal, teacher and parent.
At Hanford and Richland high schools, students are expected to put phones and earbuds — except for Chromebook use — away during class. They can use them between classes and during lunchtime.
Students can wear a smart watch, but can’t use it to communicate during class.
“We know there are a few exceptions that will need to be made, and we will gladly work with families to accommodate necessary requests with proper documentation,” the letter to high school families reads, which could include for medical reasons.
This story was originally published August 23, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
