Beginning this summer, students at Evanston Township High School will be required to keep cell phones in provided storage units during class time. Students may still use phones during passing and free periods, at lunch and in the school’s hub.
ETHS recent statement on the changes highlights the importance of physical separation from phones during instruction. This separation from phones and earbuds or headphones aims to limit class disruptions and keep students present.
“Adjusting to this new practice may feel challenging for some students and parents/guardians,” the statement said.
In case of emergency, phones may be made available to contact family members. Students can also access phones if they notify instructors that they are feeling unwell and need to go to the nurse’s office.
Any student not in compliance with the policy changes may face consequences. Teachers will first give a verbal reminder of the policy. If a second transgression occurs, the student’s parent or guardian will be contacted. After three transgressions, the teacher will submit a conduct referral to the student’s dean. The dean can apply further disciplinary actions based on the school’s student behavior code.
The school plans to hold a virtual session on May 20 to answer questions about the policy updates. More detailed information will also be available in the updated student handbook in July.
ETHS also provided this link to discussions and research that the changes are based on.
The research includes articles and videos that discuss positive effects of reducing phone time in school. Some effects include mental health benefits and sharper focus. The negative effects of using phones during school time include potential diminished academic achievement and poorer communication skills.
How ETHS compares to other area schools
Schools in the surrounding areas have varying levels of cell phone restrictions.
At Niles North High School in Skokie, students can use phones during passing periods and at lunch time, much like the new ETHS policy. They are not required to store phones during class. Their Cell Phone and Device Policy also calls for confiscation of the phone on all offenses.
At the first offense, students can get their phone after class. Parents or guardians must pick up the cell phone at the end of the day for a second offense and for a third offense can retrieve the phone after a student has served a three-hour detention.
New Trier High School in Winnetka also allows students to access phones during unscheduled time, and during class with the permission of a teacher. Phones have to be on silent always. The school also reserves the right to search phones at any time to make sure a student is complying with acceptable uses.
“Students have no expectation of privacy in regard to personal devices brought onto school grounds,” the school’s Technology Acceptable Use Regulations state.
At Loyola Academy in Wilmette, phones must remain out of sight during school hours unless students are given permission by staff, according to their student handbook.
Several states across the country have introduced phone-banning legislation to curb use during school hours, the Associated Press reported in February.