San Mateo High School goes phone-free, largest public school in the country to do it

[Wingnut]

 

SAN MATEO, Calif. (KGO) -- When students got their textbooks at the beginning of the year at San Mateo High School, they also received the Yondr pouch, a locking device for their phones.

The phone slides into it and gets locked through a magnetic device. It's not unlocked again until the final bell rings. The procedure will repeat every day for the rest of the school year.



Adam Gelb, the assistant principal ran a pilot project last year with 20 students and decided to do a school-wide, bell to bell program for this school year.

The Yondr pouch is a start-up in San Francisco with a mission to create phone-free spaces, something that resonated with Gelb.

"I really think it's about being present and engaging in the adult that's trying to teach you, your peers that might be in your small group. That's part of the main philosophy that we're trying to preach," he said.

https://abc7news.com/education/san-mateo-high-largest-public-school-in-country--to-go-phone-free/5479289/?fbclid=IwAR0JN4VoW9LPOv-_o9hsUYzOTDNKb8REHGnIEokd7IDOBZICaXkGw3lSDM0

[PeteS in CA]

Interesting idea. It doesn't compromise safety the way blocking cell signals on-campus or not allowing cell phones on-campus would. But it does rely on voluntary compliance.

[Bill Cipher]

Interesting idea. It doesn't compromise safety the way blocking cell signals on-campus or not allowing cell phones on-campus would. But it does rely on voluntary compliance.

It’s probably not all that voluntary.  The choices are most likely lock it up, or lose it.