by Dick Hall-Sizemore
Schools around the country, including in Virginia, are beginning to effectively ban students’ use of cellphones in schools.
According to available data, about 75 percent of schools in the country ban the non-academic use of cellphones during school hours. However, in most cases, the ban is enforced sporadically. Teachers are put on the spot to enforce it, which creates another source of tension in the classroom. Enforcement is inconsistent— some teachers are OK with some cellphone use; others might feel that they would not be supported by the administration; others might not want to deal with angry parents over the issue.
Technology has made the implementation of a ban much easier. Yondr, a San Francisco-based company, makes a magnetically sealed pouch that can be used to keep cellphones unavailable for use. They have been used at concerts to prevent attendees from filming performances, but schools have been their biggest customers recently. It works simply: When students arrive at school, if they are carrying their cellphones, they place the devices in the pouches which, when closed, are magnetically sealed. During the day, the cellphones cannot be accessed. When leaving the school, the pouches can be unlocked with a docking device. Continue reading