Medford School District’s New Cell Phone Policy

Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 -- 8:01 AM

(Hailey Clevenger, WSAW) The Medford School District is going back to a time before cell phones. Middle and high schools are going a little old school.

According to Hailey Clevenger with WSAW, for students in Medford, their phones are not allowed to be used during school. Instead, their phone gets locked up in a case and the only way to unlock is with a magnet which they don’t get until the end of the day.

This new ‘no phone’ policy started this school year. Staff noticed when students had their phones, they weren’t paying attention in class, and they had more anxiety because of the pressures of social media. However, with phones locked away, they don’t have that problem anymore. Students can now focus on something else, being a teenager and school.

“We don’t see phones at all from 8 o’clock to 3:30 in the afternoon,” Medford High School Principal Jill Lybert explained. “It’s great to see kids smiling and interacting. We see the noise in our cafeteria has gone up, but it’s a good noise, they are talking and interacting. Engagement in the classroom has increased.”

At the beginning of the year, that’s not what some students were thinking. “The first week it was some adjustments like everyone was like, ‘What is this?’ This is not cool, give me my phone,” Medford High School Senior Brett Lemke said.

Fellow senior Toryn Rau says she’s never had to do this before and sometimes wishes she had her phone during downtime. Ever since saying goodbye to her phone on the first day of school though, she’s learned to let go.

“I’m not really noticing that I want my phone as much because I have school work I need to get done and I’m taking harder classes this year and so it’s work that has to be done right away,” Rau said.

“They can’t use their phones during their study halls so they’re coming in for help,” Medford High School Math Interventionist Karie Thums. “They’re getting their homework done while they’re in school versus trying to get it. Students done outside of school.”

Without their phones, teachers can do more physical activities to keep students engaged in school. Students are also finding ways to get creative. One student brings a digital camera to school to snap memories without Snapchat.

“We have board games, we have puzzles, we have extra things happening to build our community, and right now I have an UNO tournament going on,” Rau added. In the end, the phone policy is helping students outside of school too.

“I have two younger brothers and feel like I’ve definitely connected with them a little bit more not being on my phone and hiding out in my room as much,” Lemke shared. If students really need to check their phones for an emergency they can go to the office and use that magnet to unlock their phones.

If a student gets caught using their phone, they have to give their phone to office staff. Students who need their phones for medical purposes can have access to their phones but will be asked to lock them away again.

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