AS WE MOVE into the second quarter of the school year, the new phone policy is continuing to be refined. Recently, the administration loosened the Yondr policy, allowing for usage when leaving campus for lunchtime. Announced by Dr. Howe, the policy allows Lancers to un-pouch their phones while off-campus during their lunch period.
Some students have felt that the pouches haven’t been regulated as heavily as during the start of the year. This may be evidence of a gradual lessening of restrictions. Granger had record low F-grades on report cards first quarter, perhaps due to the Yondr program.
Ms. McMillan, assistant principal and head of the Yondr program at Granger High, hasn’t slowed down. Across the whole administration, she estimates about one hundred phones have been confiscated this year, along with more than six thousand total phone infractions. She is even still performing random spot checks on classrooms. McMillan believes the pouches are effective, “I do think that, for the most part, our day is free from distractions,” Ms. McMillan said.
She also claims that teachers have been able to cover much more material so far this year, in comparison to last year at the same time—thanks to the pouches. McMillan says the new flagpole magnet will be good for students, “The new unlock system, I think that will be helpful,” Ms. McMillan said.
Teachers aren’t slowing down either. Ms. Estes, a health teacher at Granger, estimates she’s confiscated between ten and twenty phones, but hasn’t had any random spot checks thus far. “For the most part, the pouches have been very helpful, but of course there are students who have found a way around them,” she said. She likes that the pouches act as a self-regulation tool, keeping students accountable for their phone use.
Mr. Tilley, a freshmen-focused teacher at Granger, is also hopeful for the success of Yondr pouches. He’s dealt with fewer phone issues than last year, estimating between only five and six confiscations. He thinks the pouches are doing their job, “I think that the point of the pouches is to teach kids proper technology usage,” Mr. Tilley said.
The implementation of the pouches has also been mostly smooth for him; Mr. Tilley has only had one student refuse to pouch their phone. While he hasn’t had any random spot checks on his classroom, he would request one if necessary.
Keelin Bentley (9) says that the Yondr phone pouches are working as intended “The pouches have some flaws, but they’re mostly effective,” Bentley said. While she hasn’t had her phone taken away, Bentley still feels that her teachers and the administration have been enforcing the phone policy an average amount. In her opinion, she hasn’t seen a change in enforcement between the first and second quarters.
Overall, the amount of enforcement likely hasn’t changed, rather students are just getting used to the new policy. It’s hard to say whether or not the pouches are reducing distractions as a whole, however they do appear to be working for some students and teachers.
