Citing bullying, a Springfield area district bans cell phones, smartwatches

Students will no longer be allowed to bring cell phones, smartwatches, ear buds, digital cameras and other electronic devices to class in Crane schools.

The district in Stone County, 30 miles southwest of Springfield, notified parents of the policy change this week.

This fall, students will be required to leave their devices at home or locked in vehicles.

Any cell phones or other electronic devices brought to school must be checked into the office, where they will remain during the school day.

"Students have utilized their personal electronics for many things that have led to this policy change, including but not limited to inappropriate videos, cheating on educational assignments, and above all, bullying and harassment by means of social media," said Daniel Davis, principal of Crane High School, in the June 22 letter. "Our hope is to teach our students to invest in themselves and their education, disconnecting from the grip that mobile devices play on their lives."

Davis said students who violate the policy will have their phone taken and parents will be asked to pick them up. Any subsequent violations will trigger an in-school or out-of-school suspension.

Crane teachers previously had the option of establishing how much smartphones and related devices were allowed in class.

In a phone interview Friday, Davis said the school board and many parents supported this change.

He said cell phones are a convenience and a tool and have been allowed to be used in certain school assignments and class presentations. But, he added, "overwhelmingly, they have been more a nuisance."

"There are a lot of negatives. We have kids that will be trying to make a TikTok in the bathroom or during class, SnapChat, and it's really going to help us curb some of our biggest bullying issues," he said.

He said about 90 percent of the bullying that occurs is through electronic devices.

Davis, who will be assistant principal of Willard High School this fall, said the heavy use of electronic devices is having an impact on students' ability to concentrate and learn.

"Time spent in front of that screen...is taking away time spent in front of a book or a teacher," he said.

He acknowledged the new rule will be challenging to enforce.

"We're still going to have issues. There are a lot of things that are going to be ironed out through this process," he said. "We've been doing research, talking to other districts."

More: Missouri high school bans student cell phones, smartwatches starting April 4

Parents who want their children to be able to carry a cell phone due to medical issues will be able to apply for a hardship waiver.

Davis said this fall, parents will be expected to contact the front office to relay any type of important message to their children, such as a change in pickup plans.

In Crane, which has nearly 575 students, the elementary has long had a policy to restrict cell phone use.

"Some of the impact we're hoping to see is their social-emotional skills take priority. We want to see them grow as a person, having one-on-one conversations, and that social interaction with students," Davis said. "That has been a big takeaway from having those phones is that our nose is stuck in them and we are not always taking the opportunity to invest in those around us."

Claudette Riley is the education reporter for the News-Leader. Email news tips to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Citing bullying, a Springfield area district bans cell phones