GRAND FORKS — Parents and a student who attended Grand Forks high school open houses this week gave mixed reviews of a new cellphone ban implemented within Grand Forks Public Schools.
Part of the statewide “bell-to-bell”
cellphone ban that was passed by the North Dakota Legislature
in April, Grand Forks’ plan was put together earlier this summer by district leaders and went into practice on Wednesday and Thursday, the district’s first days of school.
Gabriela Toviah, the parent of a student at Red River High School, said she supports the policy and hopes it will spur connections between students.
“We need more interaction,” she said. “People are getting more isolated.”
She acknowledged concerns about students not having their phones in emergency situations, but said that she herself attended school without phones and believes parents can contact the school directly if needed.
Dennis Demski, another parent of students at Red River, said he believes the policy will allow kids to focus better without distractions.
“It’s positive overall,” he said. “It eliminates distractions, especially if the kids are not trying to work around the ban.”
The statewide ban was pushed during the most recent legislative session by Gov. Kelly Armstrong, who told the Grand Forks Herald in May that he believes it “will have a tremendous impact” on North Dakota schools.
“It’s probably the one issue that my former legislative experience was really beneficial on. There was a lot of undercurrent of real momentum for it — you just had to recognize it,” he said. “One of the reasons is the data tells you all of this: more anxious, more mental health (issues), bullying, lack of objective reasoning, lack of concentration.”
Grand Forks school leaders developed the district’s plan earlier this summer.
Effective enforcement of the ban has come up throughout implementation discussions. Grand Forks
, compared to when cellphone policies were imposed only by districts.
Of three parents interviewed Wednesday, Aug. 27, at an open house at Red River High School, two were in overall support of the new policy. However, a third believes the ban’s effectiveness will vary depending on grade level.
Ruby Aipperspach, a staff member at Grand Forks Public Schools and the parent of students at Red River High School, said the policy might serve younger students more than older students.
“I think it can be effective. It has its pros and cons,” she said. “I am a firm believer that, especially the bigger kids … should have access to their phone just in case something happens. But working at an elementary school, I think it is very positive, absolutely.”
While high schools, middle schools and elementary schools will have differing policies determining where students are to put their phones and in what cases exceptions will be made, the ban ensures all K-12 students will not have their phones all day.
A student isn’t convinced of the new rule’s supposed merits. Juju Aaker, a student at Central High School, said she does not like the new policy and thinks students should be given more autonomy.
“I feel like you should have more freedom,” she said. “I feel like at least at lunch, you should have them. … It would be nice to have them in the hallway, but I don’t think that’s needed. But I think having them at lunch is a good thing.”
Sophia is the K-12 education reporter for the Grand Forks Herald.