Ramsey School District sees early success with going phone-free in classrooms
School officials say the goal of going phone-free is to better address classroom distractions, support student engagement and create a more effective student learning environment.
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It's been one week since students in the Ramsey School District started using Yondr magnetic pouches to lock up their phones, earbuds and smartwatches during school hours. School officials say that so far, it's going great.
They say the goal of going phone-free is to address classroom distractions better, support student engagement and create a more effective student learning environment.
The district tried having teachers collect phones at the beginning of class a few years ago, but it put stress on the teacher-student relationship.
The new program has mixed opinions between students and teachers.
RELATED: Ramsey High School begins cellphone ban for students
MORE:‘Enough is enough.’ Gov. Phil Murphy calls for cellphone ban in all K-12 classrooms
"Especially during college decision time when you want to see your email, or there is something on your phone, or you want to contact your parents after school - that's sort of gets inconvenient with it locked up," said senior Monisha Khatri.
"It's been nine school days and I'm already seeing a difference. The first two days there was a lot of grumbling and a lot of adjustment...But already I am seeing more conversation, more peer interactions as they enter the classroom, as they exit the classroom," said Lori Militello, an English and special education teacher at Ramsey High School.
School officials took away four minutes from lunch period and added it to first period to ensure the 700 students who go to the high school have enough time, in the mornings to lock up their phones in the Yondr pouches.
Gov. Phil Murphy said he would like to see cellphones banned from all classrooms in New Jersey. The governor made the remarks in Tuesday’s State of the State address.
