In the beginning of the 2024 school year, some East Islip High School teachers have implemented a new cell phone policy in their classrooms that requires students to put their cell phones in caddies. The policy will help students to focus more in class and avoid distractions from their phone.
EIHS Principal, Mr. Bernard, told the community more about the policy in a message on Student Square. “It is our goal to have students fully engaged in learning when they are present in our classrooms. It has been a practice in some classrooms to require students to place their cell phones in a caddy adhered to the wall upon entry,” the message said. “This practice allows students to learn in an environment free from the distraction of their cell phone.”
The policy has been met with mixed reviews from students.
Senior, Paul Ruotolo doesn’t think the policy has changed much. “Personally I think the phone caddies have been unsuccessful in the classrooms. I’ve noticed most of the students in the school don’t put their phones in the caddy and keep it in their pockets or backpacks instead,” he said. “And most of the teachers don’t even enforce it and some didn’t even put the caddy up.”
Paul is correct – not all teachers require students to put their phones in the caddies – but some teachers who use them have been successful.
Science teacher Mr. Ruggiero has a caddy in his class and has seen some success. “Overall, I think the caddies are a good idea. I think that the students prefer not to give up their phones with the worry that the phone can get damaged or someone can take their phone by mistake, but overall they get the message that we want to have a less distracted learning environment.”
Other districts are trying new cell phone policies as well that are different. One option even involved students locking their phone in a pouch throughout the day.
The school hopes that the phone caddies will leave kids less distracted and help them focus on their school work more.
