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Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) is implementing a no cell phone policy in its five high school campuses across Larkspur, San Anselmo and Mill Valley starting next school year. This policy comes as the district is trying to minimize the harm that cell phones present in learning environments.
TUHSD’s school board trustees voted to purchase NuKase hard plastic lockable cellphone cases for students at Tamalpais High School, Redwood High School and Archie Williams High School. The district’s two alternative schools, Tamiscal High School and San Andreas High School, will have cell phone storage lockers on campus.
TUHSD School Board President Cynthia Roenisch voted yes to purchasing the cellphone cases.
“It is hands-down that restricting students’ handling of phones for the school day will improve student learning,” Roenisch said to the Marin Independent Journal.
As TUHSD implements the pouches, San Marin High School students review their own school’s phone policy. Currently, Novato Unified School District (NUSD) requires phone caddies to be used in every classroom and allows students to use phones during passing periods and breaks.
San Marin senior Daniel Rhine has researched the effects of students’ learning compared to phone usage.
“I think Tam switching the phones off is actually a good move,” Rhine said. “I’ve seen data that shows that students actually perform better without phones.”
Sophomore Carly Becker observes her classmates’ phone usage in the classroom.
“I feel there’s been a lot of cheating in classes with phones,” Becker said. “Some teachers say to put their phones in the caddy, and some don’t.”
Sophomore Ricky Wu believes the current system works at San Marin.
“I remember watching media about other schools that have done phone pouches, and I feel it’s too much,” Wu said. “I’d rather leave my phone at home than have it with me.”
Freshman Kara Yazdi agrees with current phone policies but believes learning can be hindered by phone usage.
“I think that if you’re on your phone all day in class, it’s not good, and you can’t learn as well, but out of class, I think that’s fine,” Yazdi said.
Whether NUSD decides to change its phone policy in the future to improve its learning environment or not, students are conflicted on the outcomes of a possible change.
