Of the approximately 45 people who filled the library at James Monroe High School Tuesday morning for a “Commonwealth Conversation” on phone-free schools, Elias Koza was the only one who stood to be directly affected by the policies being discussed.
“School is boring,” said Koza, a rising James Monroe sophomore. “For most kids, it is really hard to sit through an hour of doing worksheets or listening to other people talk about things…
“Saying you cannot use these cellphones is just ignoring the problem of why they’re on these cellphones.”
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons moderated Tuesday’s discussion, which is one in a series scheduled throughout the Commonwealth following the issuance of Executive Order No. 33. The order, which Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed on July 9, calls for the state’s Department of Education “to provide guidance to school boards on phone-free policies and procedures.”
Over the past couple of months, school districts across the Fredericksburg area have swiftly developed and overhauled their own policies governing the use of the devices ahead of the upcoming school year. Several local superintendents, administrators and school board members attended Tuesday’s talk.
The first 30 minutes were devoted to high schools, followed by shorter segments on phone-free middle and elementary schools. In a format not dissimilar to a classroom discussion, Coons called on speakers with their hands raised.
Several educators shared their experiences policing cellphone use in the classroom.
“I almost quit because of this issue,” said one speaker, a 16-year veteran high school teacher in Stafford County. “Students are so addicted that they are disrespectful. I’m worried for my safety, I believe I could get punched out if I tried to take a kid’s cellphone from them.”
For Mark Wright, who has taught theater at James Monroe for the past 20 years, it’s become increasingly difficult to separate students from their devices — literally.
“I’ve seen a kid try to pick up a drill with a cellphone in their hand,” said Wright, “and not realize, ‘Why can’t I hold a drill?’ Because you’re holding a phone.”
Much of the conversation around high schools concerned implementation. Speakers suggested either a bell-to-bell approach — meaning no use during instructional hours — or the possibility of designated breaks, during lunch, for example.
Erin Koza, Elias’ mother, said that she’s already observed her son and his friends scouring Yondr handbooks in search of ways to circumvent the locking storage pouches, which will be used during the instructional day in city schools.
“These kids are three steps ahead of you and your plans to ban their cellphone use during classes,” Koza said.
Coons emphasized that the state is not recommending or mandating any one method of restricting use. She noted that Louisa County Public Schools have enforced a cost-free “up and away” policy since 2008.
Coons said the state is offering “micro-grants” totaling $500,000 to communities to enable them to hold informational and parent nights regarding a cellphone policy. Draft guidance will be posted on the VDOE website on Aug. 15.
“If the school system doesn’t do anything, we get blamed for that, too,” Wright said. “We have to take some kind of action.”
