12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY August 1-7, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com Smartphones have become an essential tool for everyday life, from calling and texting to purchasing goods or reading the news. But they can also cause distraction if people spend too much time scrolling, or become an instrument for cyberbullying. On July 22, the Salinas Union High School District announced it will join the “no phone” movement. It will ban cellphone use at all of its four middle schools starting at the outset of the 2024-25 school year. “SUHSD has made our middle schools phone-free spaces to improve teaching and learning,” the announcement said. Mixed reactions from the SUHSD community were reflected on social media (perhaps expressed via smartphone). Some show their support for this measure while others worry about their children’s safety (parents will have to call the main office to communicate with students). The district invested $200,000 in Yondr, a program focused on creating cellphone-free spaces. Students will be permitted to bring phones to school, but will be required to turn them off and lock them away during the school day in a gray pouch. Students will have the pouch with them at all times and phones will be unlocked at the end of the day. If students have medical needs, like diabetes, they will have access to clear pouches if they use smartphones to monitor glucose levels. There are several reasons why the program will begin in middle schools. The student population is smaller than high schools (on average, SUHSD’s middle schools have about 1,000 students compared to the high school average of 2,300), and administrators say middle school students are spending more time on their devices during class and it has increased aggressive behavior, including cyberbullying, on campus. “It really stimulates the conversation about what options we have to be able to support students being safe, but also allow them to participate fully in school. This was one of those ways,” Superintendent Dan Burns says. According to Yondr surveys, the program increases student engagement, positive behavior and academic performance. Fights have reduced 25 percent in schools since students can’t engage in cyberbullying and social media harassment during school hours. Several countries including France, China and Australia, and some American states including Florida, have banned cellphones in schools. Assembly Bill 272 took effect in California in 2020, allowing school districts to implement policies to limit the use of cellphones during the school days. Last year, the Global Education Monitoring Report, an annual report published by UNESCO that monitors education worldwide, advocated for the use of technology in the classroom, including cellphones, when they support students’ learning outcomes. Burns says the cellphone-free middle schools are a pilot. “If it works out really well, and it meets the expectation—which for us is it will reduce distractions in the classroom—then there’ll be a conversation about scaling up at high school.” Phone Free Salinas Union High School District to implement a cellphone-free campus in middle schools. By Celia Jiménez Middle school students at SUHSD schools will each place their smartphone in an opaque Yondr pouch that remains locked throughout the school day, including lunch and break time. NEWS “It will reduce distractions in the classroom.” DANIEL DREIFUSS Hay, Hay, Hay! 101 W. Laurel Dr, Salinas • (831)443-6161 Mon-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 10am-5pm $5 OFF Any purchase of $25 or more $10 OFF Any purchase of $50 or more $20 OFF Any purchase of $100 or more Cannot be combined with other offers. Limit 1 coupon per customer. Not valid on hay shavings, Frontline/Advantage, or Seresto collars. Must present coupon at time of purchase. Alfalfa $24.99 Alfalfa Grass Mix $26.99 Forage Mix $17.99 Wheat Straw $14.99 “I brought my Subaru to Hartzel on advice of a friend and I was so pleased with the service & attention I got from them. Not only finished on time, but under the estimate I was given. Very rare these days. So pleased with the whole experience & great peace of mind knowing it was done correctly. Highly recommend this guy.” —David F., Seaside 2/14/19 510 California Avenue | Sand City | 394.6002 hartzelautomotive.com EXPERT SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT. Subaru Mazda Lexus Infiniti Saab vintage MG SCHEDULE YOUR NEXT SERVICE ONLINE TODAY new fall arrivals carmel plaza carmel-by-the-sea (831)625-8106 shirting outerwear sport coats trousers and more!
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