Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
MCPS had a cell phone and other electronic device use policy already in place; however, students were permitted to use their personal electronics for academic purposes.
Now that policy has been stringently revised for CMS students.
Christiansburg Middle School students are no longer be permitted to use their phones from “bus room dismal to the last bell of the day” and they should be “off and away” according to a letter addressed to CMS families from Principal Danny Knott.
Montgomery County Public Schools has been providing each student with a Chromebook for several years now, reducing the need for students to use their own personal devices for educational purposes.
“We already had a cell phone policy in place,” Superintendent Dr. Bernard Bragen said. “With a 1:1 device such as the Chromebook, that took away the need to use [cell phones] in the classroom.”
The superintendent also said, however, cell phone use can be at the discretion of the teacher in meeting with educational purposes. When the cell phone policy was first enacted, it was a strict ban of use, but over time, the technology proved to hold real educational advantages in the classroom and the policy was relaxed.
Many recent issues have required another look at the policy.
The distraction of habitually checking a mobile device has been one issue in the classroom that impacts the ability of educators to maintain the sustained attention of students. Christiansburg Middle School Principal Danny Knotts, along with a committee, reviewed cell phone policies, along with the need to include smartwatches and other personal devices. The committee also took an in-depth look into research on the impact that personal technology is having on students’ academics and their mental health. Other school systems that have taken this approach have seen positive effects as well in their student bodies. A training session for students, staff, and faculty preceded the start date of the new ban.
“So far, the response has been favorable,” Bragen said.
Some parents are not so sure they like the idea though. A recent anonymous post on Facebook in the group Everything Christiansburg shared the wdbj7.com link covering the recent phone ban titled, “Christiansburg Middle School bans phone usage during school day”. The responses from local Facebook members ranged from 100% agreement with the reenactment of the policy to parents who felt this was endangering their children and creating anxiety for parents when they could not be in contact with their children during the school day. Several parents cited fear of school shootings and also that their children feel generally safer with their phone on them.
“I try to stay off Facebook as much as I can, but if there is a downside from parents, ‘I no longer have immediate access to my kid.’ I understand that,” Bragen said.
Bragen said parents always have immediate access to their child through the office.
“When I was a kid, you had a bad day at school, someone picking on you, having an issue with a teacher, …these issues never ends,” Bragen said. “Some of us need to reflect on, do we need to have 100% access to our child at any time?”
Bragen said distractions with parent-child communication, whether it is good or bad information, is one part of it, but also the problem with social media interactions from their peers.
Additional disruptions are also created between student peers from ongoing electronic communications. These communications can become volatile at times, putting students at risk during the school day for bullying and harassment and interferes with their education.
Principal Knott relayed the cell phone ban information in the following letter to “CMS Family”, which included the consequences for violations of the policy:
Dear CMS Family,
As a community of lifelong learners, the faculty of CMS are always looking to improve so that we can best educate our students. One area that we have looked at this year is the use of personal electronic devices, or simply put, cell phones. Early in the year, we put together a committee to review the current personal device policy to see where we could do better. As part of their work, the committee reviewed numerous articles that strongly suggest that the distractions personal technology brings to our students negatively impacts their academic performance and mental health. As we move forward with this updated policy, we invite you to look at the articles the committee reviewed that are available via this link.
Working with the entire staff, the committee discovered that the policy needed to be updated to include newer forms of technology, such as smartwatches and headphones, and to create a schoolwide standard for enforcement of the policy. Please review the new policy below. Staff will begin teaching students about the new policy and it will take effect on March 5, 2024 so that we may finish the year strong.
Schools that have taken a similar approach to our new policy are seeing positive outcomes to school climate and academic performance. We look forward to the growth and strides we will make at CMS in the days to come.
Updated Policy
Cell phones and other electronic devices – including smart watches and wired/wireless headphones – are non-school items that are disruptive to the learning environment. Students are not permitted to use or display such devices during the school day (from bus room dismal to the last bell of the day). The expectation is that they are “off and away” in all areas of the building including, but not limited to, hallways, bathrooms, cafeteria, etc. Such devices will be considered to be “in use,” and will be confiscated and turned into the office if they are on (silent or audible), sending or receiving a call or text message, including swiping or tapping smart watches, or being used to take, display, or send photos/videos, etc. Again, the expectation is, “off and away.” Students may have such items in their possession for use after school hours, during bus rides to and from school, and during athletic events. Students may use personal electronic devices during instructional time only for academic purposes and under the direction and supervision of the classroom teacher.
If electronic devices are visible, are swiped, tapped, or ring/buzz during the school day they will be confiscated and include the following consequences:
First offense – Devices confiscated and sent to the office till the end of the day. Students may pick up devices at the end of the day.
Second offense – Devices confiscated and sent to the office till the end of the day. Parents responsible for picking up the devices.
Third offense – Same as the second offense.
Fourth (and additional) offense – Same as the second offense but includes Saturday school detention.
Parents who need to contact students during the school day should contact the main office 540-394-2180. Students who need to contact parents during the school day must go to the counseling office.
Cell phone use on field trips and during special events is at the discretion of the teacher and
administration. Students are not permitted to use their personal cell phones to take pictures or videos of anyone, and they may not post any pictures or videos during school hours, which includes school bus transportation to and from school.
Sincerely,
Danny Knott
Principal
Bragen said the School Board would continue the policy review for Montgomery County at their planned retreat.
The CMS Student/Family Handbook 2023-24 can be found on the www.mcps.gov website, and by selecting Christiansburg Middle School’s webpage. The cell phone policy is listed on page 21 of the handbook.
