The Howard County Board of Education on Thursday approved a new cellphone policy for students.As part of the new policy, students across Howard County high, middle and elementary schools cannot use cellphones from the first bell of the day to the last bell of the day.District spokesman Brian Bassett told 11 News the idea is to remove distractions from instruction and that the ban will start after an awareness campaign on March 3.The board chose March to implement the cellphone ban in order to give parents and students a month to get used to the idea, as well as make time to gather the resources needed to enforce the ban. Per the new policy, students can bring cellphones to school with them, but the devices must be “away and silenced,” meaning devices are not able to be seen by either the student or staff member and are set on silent.The board received feedback on its rule from thousands of students, staff members and parents. Some parents with whom 11 News spoke on Friday said they seem to be OK with the ban because the goal is to eliminate distractions.”This is a real distraction for the kids. I think that’s a good idea, that’s my opinion,” said Arnel Nerett, a parent.”I’m completely OK with it. I think they’re there to learn. If they need to reach out in an emergency, that needs to be taken care of, I think they should be able to do that, but, really, I don’t have a problem with it,” said Bryan Pax, a parent.”In certain cases, the way that things happen at school, your kid needs to be able to notify you, and you need to be able to notify them. In addition to that, when there are alerts going on, I think it’s important that they know that there are things happening,” said Niquita Brown, a parent.The school system said the board didn’t impose an all-out ban out of concern for emergencies, and cellphones will still be allowed in the building.Smartwatches will be permitted to be worn to check time but cannot be a distraction.When a personal device is used in violation of the new policy, school staff will confiscate the device and return it at the end of the school day. Parents will be asked to go to school to retrieve cellphones for repeated violations.Other school districts across the Baltimore area also have cellphone policies in schools. Baltimore County Public Schools has a cellphone policy that restricts cellphone use during class time or inappropriately at any time during the school day, as well as a pilot program involving students placing their devices in a pouch during instructional time.Harford County Public Schools policy on cellphones allows the devices at schools, but they cannot be used during the school day. Anne Arundel County Public Schools has a policy that differs among grade levels.
The Howard County Board of Education on Thursday approved a new cellphone policy for students.
As part of the new policy, students across Howard County high, middle and elementary schools cannot use cellphones from the first bell of the day to the last bell of the day.
District spokesman Brian Bassett told 11 News the idea is to remove distractions from instruction and that the ban will start after an awareness campaign on March 3.
The board chose March to implement the cellphone ban in order to give parents and students a month to get used to the idea, as well as make time to gather the resources needed to enforce the ban.
Per the new policy, students can bring cellphones to school with them, but the devices must be “away and silenced,” meaning devices are not able to be seen by either the student or staff member and are set on silent.
The board received feedback on its rule from thousands of students, staff members and parents. Some parents with whom 11 News spoke on Friday said they seem to be OK with the ban because the goal is to eliminate distractions.
“This is a real distraction for the kids. I think that’s a good idea, that’s my opinion,” said Arnel Nerett, a parent.
“I’m completely OK with it. I think they’re there to learn. If they need to reach out in an emergency, that needs to be taken care of, I think they should be able to do that, but, really, I don’t have a problem with it,” said Bryan Pax, a parent.
“In certain cases, the way that things happen at school, your kid needs to be able to notify you, and you need to be able to notify them. In addition to that, when there are alerts going on, I think it’s important that they know that there are things happening,” said Niquita Brown, a parent.
The school system said the board didn’t impose an all-out ban out of concern for emergencies, and cellphones will still be allowed in the building.
Smartwatches will be permitted to be worn to check time but cannot be a distraction.
When a personal device is used in violation of the new policy, school staff will confiscate the device and return it at the end of the school day. Parents will be asked to go to school to retrieve cellphones for repeated violations.
Other school districts across the Baltimore area also have cellphone policies in schools. Baltimore County Public Schools has a cellphone policy that restricts cellphone use during class time or inappropriately at any time during the school day, as well as a pilot program involving students placing their devices in a pouch during instructional time.
Harford County Public Schools policy on cellphones allows the devices at schools, but they cannot be used during the school day. Anne Arundel County Public Schools has a policy that differs among grade levels.