Ogden High sets new policy banning cellphones in classrooms

Ryan Bittan
·3 min read

OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) — Ogden High School has rolled out a new policy banning cellphones in class, requiring each classroom to have a locker where students will store their phones until class is over.

The new policy, which goes into effect on Monday, Feb. 5, comes amid Utah’s first-in-the-nation social media restriction laws and follows a letter sent by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox last month encouraging educators to remove cellphones during class.

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Ogden High has done just that, and their new policy is outlined as follows.

While phones must be stored in backpacks during class, if a student needs to use a hall pass, they will need to store their cellphone in the classroom locker. If a student’s phone is visible during “instructional time” either in the classroom or in the halls, there will be a penalty.

The school has outlined a three-strike system:

  • 1st Offense

    • The student will be asked to put their cellphone in the classroom locker. An administrator will pick up the phone and have a conference with the student, as well as contact the student’s parents. The student will be able to pick up their phone at the end of day from the school’s main office.

  • 2nd Offense

    • Same as the first offense, however, a parent will be required to pick up the phone after school from the main office.

  • 3rd Offense

    • Same process as the first two offenses, but an additional parent meeting will be scheduled to put a plan in place for the student moving forward.

“We all know that cell phones are a distraction and when we put phones away we can actually focus and study,” Cox said in his letter. “Cell phone-free learning environments will help our teachers teach and our students learn. We want to give our schools every opportunity to succeed and so I hope our local school districts and charter schools will join me in this effort to keep phones in backpacks or lockers during class time.”

Ogden High now joins other Utah schools in their efforts to ban cellphones during school hours, including Delta High School and Evergreen Junior High, among others.

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Delta High in Millard School District is reportedly a “cell phone-free” school. Students put their phones in a clear pocket that hangs in front of the classroom. “It was a battle to begin with, but it has been so worth it. Students and parents have all adapted, our teachers are happier and learning has increased,” said Jared Christensen, the school’s assistant principal.

Evergreen Junior High has taken an even more aggressive approach. Cell phones are not allowed anytime during the school day — that means in classrooms, halls, or lunchrooms. “It’s so much easier to just ban them altogether,” said Principal Ryan Shaw. “Learning has improved, and our scores reflect that. Bullying and fighting have decreased. The students connect with each other in a more meaningful way. We are grateful for the support we have from our community council – it’s been critical.”

Gov. Cox continues to urge educators to engage with parents and collaborate to develop cell phone policies.

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