Local schools bucking national trend as cellphone policies try to keep students engaged, prepared for real world 

QUINCY — Schools across the country are grappling with the challenge of keeping students engaged in the face of constant cellphone distractions, but local schools are proving that a firm approach to technology can make a difference. 

Cellphone use has been linked in many school districts nationwide to a decline in academic performance, poor school attendance, and participation. However, some local schools here are seeing a different story unfold thanks to consistent enforcement of cellphone policies and adopting a balanced approach that provides both guardrails and opportunities to prepare students for the real world.

At Quincy High School, Principal Jody Steinke emphasizes that while cellphones can be a significant distraction, the issues surrounding their use are multifaceted. 

“Placing the blame for all of the issues cited solely on cellphones is probably a step too far,” Steinke said. “I will say, and most teachers would back me up on this, that they are most definitely a distraction in classrooms.”

Steinke recognizes that social media and its anonymity can create drama and conflict for students and adults. Quincy High School maintains a clear policy requiring cellphones to be turned off and out of sight during instructional time. The school’s staff is making a concerted effort to enforce the policy consistently across the building this year.

“Preliminary feedback is that this is going well,” Steinke said. “At the end of the day, all that we are really asking is that students refrain from using cellphones for non-instructional purposes for 43 minutes at a time.”

At the same time, Steinke acknowledges that cellphones are part of the real world and are used for various tasks, from working to paying bills. 

“It is in our best interest to help students navigate when they are appropriate and when they are not,” he said. 

Jared Pontius, principal of Palmyra (Mo.) High School, offered a similar perspective that focuses on preparing students for life beyond high school. The school’s current policy is that students can have cellphones out during passing time and at lunch, but they cannot have their phones out during class without consequence. 

“Our philosophy is that when they graduate from us, cellphones are something they will have to learn to manage independently, and we want to help facilitate that throughout their time in high school,” Pontius explained. 

Pontius acknowledges the broader concerns associated with increased cellphone use and has witnessed an increase in student mental health issues during the past few years.

“It is hard to pinpoint the cause from our viewpoint, but I would definitely say cellphone usage and social media time are involved in that increase,” he said. “I have had students tell me they are on their cell phones constantly throughout the day during breaks and weekends, which creates difficulties for some of them to adjust back to our policy.”

To address these challenges, Pontius said Palmyra High School continually reevaluates its policies to align with societal trends. Staff discussions center around providing lesson plans to engage students and improve attention spans. One way the school does this is by offering more transitions throughout the class period. 

“Instead of having a lecture for 30-40 minutes, we have talked about breaking that lecture piece into multiple parts,” Pontius said. 

He also noted traditional teaching practices are increased as students progress through high school to prepare them for higher education and job tasks, but the staff also is mindful of adapting these methods to the current needs of their students.

Pontius is cautious about making immediate changes to the school’s cellphone policy, but he sees an ongoing opportunity to educate students about responsible device management.

By adopting a balanced approach and emphasizing responsible use, the high schools in Quincy and Palmyra hope to equip students with the skills needed to manage their devices in real-world scenarios beyond just the confines of school walls while keeping students engaged, focused and ready to learn.