A new epidemic is spreading into the mainstream use of K-12 public schools—phone lockup. For many years phones have been continuously given more and more security and restrictions. Registered under school jurisdictions as a distraction to learning, schools all over have started their paths into phone policies such as caddies, locking pouches, and even, banning phones completely.
Caddies, roughly everyone at Millard South has had to use a caddy at one point or another. Students all over schools have been very vocal in their feedback of their distaste, while others see it as a fit for limited distractions in the classroom. But, a new phone limitation is fast approaching schools. Yondr pouches are a patented “cell phone locker” used prominently in museums, festivals, and schools.
Phone Caddy in use in Ms. Kahldal’s A4 class
From the main Yondr website how the pouches work is, upon entering the “free phone space” the phone will be placed in a Yondr pouch, it will be locked, and stay on your person depending on the area, using a magnetic locking system Yondr pouches can be unlocked by stepping out of the phone-free area zone and clicking the button upon the top of the pouch. NBC News’s article on Yondr contracts with schools cites, “In the past eight years, school districts in 41 states have spent $2.5 million to buy pouches from Yondr, according to Govspend, a database of government contracts and purchases. “ Schools run roughly $20-35 per Yondr pouch, but they find it worthy due to the amazing results even with extreme student distaste.
So, the question in every student’s mind is, “Is my school going to start using these pouches?”
Well, they may be closer than you think, Yondr states they have the system implemented in all 50 states already, hoping to cover every district, expecting exponential growth in their use through the ‘24-25’ school year. In a more centered view of Nebraska, a few Lincoln Administrators proposed a bill to restrict phone usage after a video incident of a teacher now having all phone usage restricted in some schools. While in 2023, Marian has chosen to only have phone access available to students at lunch and after their freshman year. Many Nebraska officials such as Senator Jim Pillen, members of the Nebraska State Board of Education, and Senator Bill Hansen of Blair, are in support of these restrictions and pushing for even more rules in districts as close as OPS, LPS, and Bellevue.
Teachers in implemented schools find the pouches provide an extremely beneficial and positive effect on student’s health and focus. They find students seem to pay more attention, be more attentive in class, and get better grades. In the New York Times article “Why schools are racing to ban student phones” they state, “Teachers say that phone bans in classrooms improve students’ ability to concentrate on their lessons and work in groups. Some schools have also found the bans decreased phone-related bullying and student fights.”
From a junior here at South Thania Htwe speaks on her response to phone caddies in her classes, “I don’t really mind as long as they don’t use the pouches” and that her teachers take a more lenient stance on restricting phones in class.
Sophomore Nathan Kennedy added “I think that we should be allowed to have them but if they see us with them they take them, or at least allow us to put them in our bag. “
Phone restrictions and rules will continue to spread across education environments and impact students and teachers. Until then, what are your thoughts of the new progressions of phone lockups and those to come?
