Cell Phones in Class: Help or Hindrance?

WAITSBURG – Should students be allowed to access their cell phones during class? As it currently stands, Waitsburg students must store their phones in a holding box prior to entering their classes. But that may change. Or not.

During the public/board comment portion of December’s regular school board meeting, board member Christy House suggested that the district take a closer look at its cell phone policy.

House said that the primary way coaches communicate with athletes is via Facebook, but the communication takes place during the day, when the students can’t access to their phones. She also said that some teachers allow phones in the classroom for kids to use for math, research, or educational apps, while others don’t.

“There’s just no consistency. There’s a lot of grey area, so kids are getting in trouble in one way and not in another. And they can’t communicate but they’re getting communicated to. I think if the coaches are going to communicate that way we need to relax our cell phone policy or change the way they’re being communicated to. Or if one teacher is going to allow the use of technology, we should allow the use of cell phones,” House said.

Middle school teacher Maddie Martin and high school teacher Jim Leid were in attendance and both said they allow regulated use of cell phones in their classrooms. Martin said she often uses the app Kahoots with her students to review for tests. One of her students introduced the app, which allows for team-based, game-show-style quizzing, to the class.

While supportive of limited use, Martin felt unregulated cell phone access would be a detriment at the middle school level.

“It’s age appropriate. I think the high school kids can handle it. Please don’t do that to the middle school kids. We would lose all control,” she said.

Leid said his students use Desmos, a free online graphic calculator, which he says is easier to use than Texas Instruments.

“In a lot of ways we have sheltered our kids and even our community, and it’s been good. But we’re definitely starting to feel the push. The world is operating differently,” said High School Principal Stephanie Wooderchak.

Wooderchak said teacher Nicole Abel has every assignment available to her students via a link on Skyward, and teacher Matt Elder speaks lecture notes into his phone and the words come out on his overhead projector.

“Here we have teachers using their phones in class but the students can’t. We’re in an interesting age,” she said.

Board members questioned whether all students have access to smart phones and Facebook, and expressed the need to teach and require responsible cell phone usage.

House said she in no way wanted the school board to direct the staff, but suggested that the issue is one that could be discussed by the staff and brought back to the board.

“We’re digital immigrants. Our kids are natives. They were born into this. It truly does reflect a shift in culture and how we do business in and out of schools. It’s a meaningful discussion,” said Superintendent Carol Clarke.