Starting in two weeks, North Hollywood High students, along with their fellow students in schools throughout the Los Angeles Unified School District, are in for one big change to their daily routines: a new cell phone policy that will mandate students to put all phones away in special pouches for the length of each school day. For LAUSD, it will be the most restrictive technology policy placed on students since the district’s creation.
“The district’s decision to implement this policy stems from extensive research showing the negative impact of cell phones on academic performance and student engagement,” explains Mr. Xavier Chavez, Administrator at North Hollywood High School. “While we understand this transition may be challenging for some students, we believe it will create a more focused learning environment.”
The new policy involves students placing their phones in special pouches at the beginning of each period; these have secure magnetic zipping mechanisms that can only be opened with an unlocking magnet at the end of the school day. Students using phones at school will receive progressive disciplinary actions.
Honors Chemistry and Physiology teacher Ms. Ana Wu embraces the change. “I’ve seen how cell phones interfere with processes of learning,” she said. “Last semester alone, I had kids missing important discussion points because they were caught up in notifications. This policy has the potential to really bring authentic engagement back into the classroom.”
But not everyone is as sanguine. Eunice Choi, a senior and student government representative, was particularly concerned about emergency communications: “What if there’s a family emergency? Or what about students who need to coordinate after-school activities or work schedules?” She adds that many students also use their phones for legitimate academic purposes, to check Google Classroom or digital textbooks, for example.
Some of those concerns the administration has alleviated. Assistant Principal Badgen suggests that “Students can run those types of emergency calls through the office,” and also that “classroom laptop carts will always be open to anyone for an academic purpose.”
The district’s move reflects a nationwide trend where schools have recorded improved academic performances and interactions among students after similar restrictions were imposed. However, success would depend on consistent enforcement and support from the community.
The school plans to distribute pouches and fully implement the cellphone ban mid-February. It will be a revolutionary change for North Hollywood High School. What will become of it?
