Three C’s for a smooth transition to a phone-free program

by Skyler Brown ([email protected]) 368 views 

Communication, clear-cut expectations and consistent follow-through are key.

It’s the start of another school year, and noise surrounds us at every turn. Students chatter in the hallways between classes and talk animatedly to their friends in the cafeteria. It’s a typical day at Grimsley Junior High School filled with learning, peer engagement, social interaction and maybe a few minutes of drama. After all, it is a campus with more than 800 seventh and eighth graders. One element not in the mix — and not missed — is cell phones.

It’s no secret that smartphones rule in today’s world. These devices are readily available and often overused by adults and kids alike. However, their perks, such as convenience and entertainment, don’t come without downsides, particularly for children.

A Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) pediatrics study showed a link between the habitual checking of phones and changes in kids’ impulse control and academic achievement. Additional research published by JAMA highlighted that heavy smartphone usage is associated with poor sleep quantity and quality. The research is clear — scrolling takes a toll.

Recognizing the need for a change, Grimsley Junior High School has joined others in the state in participating in a voluntary pilot program to limit in-school phone use. The prospect of implementing these measures for the 2024-2025 academic school year did create some temporary heartburn. At the outset, our school team wondered how our students and caregivers would react. We questioned and slightly worried about whether there would be pushback. Equally important, we asked, “Will the program stick?” What we initially overlooked — and now celebrate — is how adaptable our students are.

Skyler Brown.

Over the past year, as part of Forward’s LeARner Collective, we’ve prioritized inviting our students to participate in the educational change process. This experience has reaffirmed that our kids want and need clear-cut communication. We’ve learned that if we set explicit expectations, they will meet them.

Today, when our seventh and eighth graders walk in the door, they know phones go up. Yes, there were a few infractions at the start of the year, but those incidents have dropped significantly since then. The same approach goes for caregivers. Like our students, adults understandably experienced some concern about the phone-free program, but that trepidation largely disappeared with transparency and open dialogue.

A semester in, we’ve seen promising results in our junior high classrooms — better focus, problem-solving, social engagement and student independence. That’s not to say the program’s rollout hasn’t been without challenges or even minor hiccups. But we’ve been pleasantly surprised by the smoothness of the implementation process.

With effective communication, clear expectations and consistent follow-through, we believe other schools considering adopting a phone-free program should feel cautiously optimistic about the positive changes it can bring to their campuses.

Editor’s note: Skyler Brown, Ed.D., is the principal of Grimsley Junior High School in the Bentonville School District. The opinions expressed are those of the author.