Local News

Methuen schools finalize student cell phone ban in classrooms

If Methuen students inappropriately use phones in class, the device will be put up in a clear pocket chart, according to policy finalized at a School Committee meeting.

(Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

August 19, 2024

3 minutes to read

With the new school year around the corner, Methuen school officials banned cell phones in classrooms and at some school events, following the lead of other area schools.

Superintendent Brandi Kwong told the Methuen School Committee during a meeting last week that the new cell phone policy would require students who inappropriately use their phone in class to put their phone up in a clear pocket chart.

“All we are asking the committee is to help support us in curbing the use of cell phones during the school so that we don’t have instructional time disrupted,” Kwong said.

Multiple local school districts, including Lowell and Brockton, have turned toward stricter cell phone policies in schools to reduce distractions in classrooms and to help teachers control students.

According to Methuen’s new policy, if a student keeps their phone away during instruction, the phone won’t be confiscated. Students are also able to put their phones in the clear pockets if they choose to on their own, Kwong told the School Committee.

“So, half the class puts it in the pocket, and half the class doesn’t, and there’s not one interruption in the class, we have solved our problem,” she said.

Some School Committee members were in favor of a mandatory ban, where all students would have to put their phones in a bin or the pockets for the entire class. Kwong said the discretionary policy is a better place to start.

“This is all about not interrupting instructional time and supporting our students and our staff without using cell phones. There’s no reason a student needs to use their cell phone during instructional time in that classroom,” Kwong said, “but I can’t have teachers pat down kids for cell phones.”

School Committee Member Kristin Maxwell spoke against implementing any type of cell phone ban at school sponsored events. According to notes from the meeting, Kwong and her team were considering that some school sponsored events might apply, noting a difference between a football game and a school dance.

While Maxwell said it’s the parent’s responsibility and their business if a child brings their phone to a dance or trunk or treat, for example, while Kwong said the policy would give the school some leverage when disciplining cyberbullying and cyber harassment.

“Kids are posting pictures of kids at dances inappropriately that lead to them in offices in the school with cyber bullying, bullying, harassment, inappropriate things being said, and we have to deal with it,” Kwong said. “It is our problem.”

Lowell High School updates policy after spring pilot

Lowell Public Schools put out a similar policy in January, requiring all cell phones at the high school to be turned off and placed in a designated container during each period. At the time, students filed a petition to fight the ban.

Now, Lowell is preparing for the new school year with an updated policy. Earlier this month, Head of School for Lowell High School Michael Fiato said the school is still “maintaining a commitment for students” to put their phones in a cell phone box during each class.

“We are refining phone collection procedures by offering teachers three options: collecting phones at the classroom door, assigning numbered slots for phones, or collecting phones directly from students,” Fiato wrote.

A survey of teachers in Lowell High School reported a 95 percent approval rating and findings that strongly suggested improvements in student engagement, according to the school.

This article has been updated to clarify that students in Lowell will still be expected to place their phones in boxes this upcoming school year.