Post written by Penny Jackson.
Quick Facts
86% of 12-17 year olds say their schools ban cell phones
65% of teens at “no phone” schools bring their cell phone to school every day
64% of teens with cell phones admit to texting in class
(Sources: Pew Research Center, Wilkes University, Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project, 2009)
These days nearly every student in high school and middle school has a cell phone. Teachers and school administrators have seen a surge in cell phone distractions in their classrooms, such as phones ringing and students texting during class.
My son is headed to high school next fall. I’m well aware of the fact that his cell phone may be a distraction in class. Since he is involved in sports and other after school activities, I tend to use his cell phone as a security blanket. I know if he is ever stuck at school late for a meeting or event, he can call to let me know if he needs a ride or keep me posted if there is a reason he won’t be home at the regular time.
As a parent, I would have a hard time taking his phone away from him. I’m torn between allowing him to carry his cell phone at school vs. the chance that he may abuse those privileges or his phone may become a distraction during class time.
I’ve spoken to some school administrators in the KC Metro area to get an idea of what their biggest concerns are regarding student cell phone usage. I’ve heard that a common problem is parents texting students during the day (which I can honestly say I’ve never done) and cell phones being stolen out of gym bags or backpacks left unattended. Another concern came up during the recent tornado warnings in the KC area this month. Parents and other family members were texting students during the warnings to make sure they were safe, which sometimes caused panic among students.
One administrator told me about rules and policies set in place regarding cell phones and the usage of those phones to capture photos. Cell phones are not allowed in restrooms but I wonder how the school staff is able to effectively reinforce that policy when students carry their phones in their pockets, backpacks, and purses. So how can schools minimize the cell phone distraction in the classroom and prevent students from using cell phones for unapproved activities?
CELL PHONE LOCKERS
Cell phone lockers are a secure option that can offer customized formats and a secure location for personal cell phones to be stored during school hours. The lockers can be located at the entrance of the school and each student is assigned a locker to ensure the cell phones are not used during school. This also prevents students keeping cell phones inside of their traditional lockers, which are accessible between classes and during breaks.
Administrators have the option of requiring students to provide their own locks, but there is also an option for the lockers to include dial locks in which school administrators can assign the combination. With this option, each student could have a corresponding cell phone locker with the same lock combination as their traditional locker.
If you’d like to learn more about eliminating the distraction of cell phones to improve the school environment, contact us today to see how secure cell phone storage lockers can work for you.
Kenton Brothers Inc. Systems for Security
816-842-3700
www.kentonbrothers.com