WI NTER 2024 | better sch o o ls
Success Is More Important Than Cell Phones By Misty Durrett, Brian Hummingbird, and Jeremy Jackson
Cell phones are a widely debated topic in relation to use in schools. Where do students’ rights to utilize them for school or personal use overlap? In 2012, a group of 20 staff members from Warner Public Schools attended the Model Schools Conference in Orlando, Florida. Presenters championed the use of cell phone technology in the classroom to bridge the divide between those who had devices (laptops, tablets, Chromebooks) and those who did not. As a staff, we decided that same year to take another route that has propelled us to be a leader in academic achievement and growth for more than ten years. A Policy Is Born Warner Public Schools’ approach to cell phones is simple – we do not want to see them or hear them during the school day. We have professional educators who are some of the best in the state, and they should not have to compete with the distractions of cellular technology. Our teachers and staff frequently allude to the lack of competition with cell phones as one reason for remaining with the district. They are truly able to just teach. Warner Public Schools has a 1:1 initiative, so all of our students have a Chromebook they can use in each class. They are allowed to communicate with their parents via email if they need to. Our students have adapted. During passing periods or lunch, we witness them having authentic conversations and interactions. Friendships are cultivated, and students engage with each other regularly. We do not witness gaming, heads down on phones, or constant texting or posting to social media. Our cell phone policy is administered consistently
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