LPS is implementing a new cell phone policy for students attending Lincoln Southwest this semester.
Principal John Matzen tells KLIN News, “For a few years now, teachers have been frustrated by the distraction of cell phone use in the classroom. We have looked at a number of policies on what might best address this. Up until now, this has been a teacher-to-teacher, classroom-to-classroom decision. What we found is teachers who have formulated a policy where students put their devices in a designated area as they entered the classroom were having higher levels of engagement, were having less distractions with phones. After testing that out in classrooms across the building, we decided it was time to leverage that up and make it a building-wide expectation.”
Southwest High school is the first school to put this policy in place. Cell phone use during class at other schools remains prohibited.
Matzen tells KLIN News, “I haven’t heard from students. I expect those first two weeks there will be students who express their displeasure about this. I don’t think they realize how much of a distraction it is to them and once they see how successful they can be without those cell phones right next to them, they will come around to it as well.”
Matzen says parents on the other hand are pleased with the decision and that the district is taking steps so students can focus on their education.
Students who don’t comply will have their devise taken to the office for the remainder of the day. If they refuse, a call will be made to the student’s home and they will troubleshoot on how to move forward.