Bell to Bell No cell phone policy is meant to help Carbondale Community High School (CCHS) students in school. This new cell phone is meant to reduce distractions, increase focus, improve grades and support mental health. At the beginning of each class students are meant to turn off their devices. Each class has a slot that cell phones must be placed in. Students are not permitted to take their phones to the bathroom. Students aren’t allowed to touch other students’ phones. Students aren’t allowed to take their phones to get a drink of water. Only when the bell rings when class ends are students allowed to use their phones. If students break this policy they will be sent to the administration office.
“This year we changed our cell phone policy and did a pilot to ease into it [the bell to bell no cell policy],” Superintendent Daniel Booth said. “Some schools are flat out banning cell phones altogether and they’re saying. they gotta be in your locker or in a pouch all day long. And we thought that was taking it too far because we know cell phones give students a sense of comfort and families a sense of comfort if there is an emergency.”
Mark Albertini, a teacher at CCHS says “at the beginning it was skeptical to see how the new cell phone policy would work. However I’ve seen a major improvement in grades especially in our government classes. Last year when kids were on their phones as opposed to this year, we don’t have anybody failing classes this year. You’re starting to see their grades going up and more homework is getting turned in. Last year we struggled getting people to turn in assignments. Now next year we’ll really see it because pilots are getting ready to happen. So you’re going to see that going across the board.
God forbid if there was something going down right now. I wouldn’t want every single one of my students on their phones screaming and crying. I can’t blame them for that if something was going down out there. But then that person who’s trying to inflict damage can hear us. During an emergency it depends, if we know we’re in a safe spot then yes. But if they’re right outside the door then no I want it quiet. Send a text that says ‘Hey, I’m ok.’ I’ve been training with an active shooter in the building. It’s run, hide or fight. I have to protect my students based on what I hear and see. Do we run? Do we make a run for it? Do we hide? Lock everything up, lock the door. Or do we fight, if they come in here everyone grab a book, desk or chair and throw it. I would always love to see more safety as a parent and teacher.”
In a most recent federal survey found that 43% of high schools are banning cellphones. However with the uprising of school shootings parents, students and teachers are concerned. Many children and teachers either die or are injured. All over social media parents have come out with concerns for their children.
“I have my own kids and are putting the trust in schools to protect their students every single day. Superintendent Booth said. We do the best that we can to ensure that everybody that walks in this building in the morning walks out at the end of the day. And that’s the reason why we implemented things like the metal detectors. That’s why we have a SRO(School Resource Officer) that is armed and ready to protect. That’s why we keep our doors locked and we only allow visitors to come into the Walnut street entrance. Students come in the Giant City entrance. We wanna make sure if someone has bad intentions we are able to notify law enforcement immediately. We know that the only thing that saves lives is response time.”
