Park the cellphone.
That’s what Lawrence High School students will be doing under a new policy enacted by school district officials – just in time for the first day of school on Sept. 5.
Lawrence High School students will “park” their cellphones, earbuds and smartwatches in designated cellphone “parking lots” in the classroom, school district officials said. They may not be used during instructional time.
Students will be allowed to use their cellphones and smartwatches during non-instructional time, such as transition times between classes and during lunch periods.
“This initiative is designed to minimize distractions and to ensure that the focus remains on instruction during class time,” said Superintendent of Schools Robyn Klim.
Research has shown that unrestricted access to digital devices and social media during school hours can affect academic performance, Klim said. It also contributes to higher stress and anxiety among teenagers.
“By limiting device usage during instructional periods, we aim to foster a more engaging and supportive educational atmosphere. Students can fully concentrate on academics and prioritize mental health,” she said.
Students at Lawrence Middle School, Lawrence Intermediate School and the four elementary schools already have a policy that addresses cellphone use. They will continue to follow the district’s “Away for the Day” policy.
Under the “Away for the Day” policy, cellphones are turned off and put in the students’ book bags – from the time they arrive at school until they are dismissed and leave the building.
Smartwatches may be worn, but they are not to be used as a cellphone or to text or communicate with others.
The Lawrence Township Public Schools is not the only school district that has moved to limit cellphone use during the school day. It is joining the list of other school districts that regulate cellphone useage.
The Cherry Hill Public Schools has banned cellphones during school hours, with limited exceptions, according to published reports in the Cherry Hill Sun newspaper. The school board adopted the policy earlier this month.
Bridgewater-Raritan High School in Somerset County enacted a policy that requires cellphones to be put in a cubby inside the classroom, according to published reports at www.NJSBA.org. It is similar to the new policy at Lawrence High School.
The Linden Public Schools in Union County enacted a policy that requires students in middle school and high school to lock up their phones in a special pouch. The pouch can only be unlocked by pressing it against a device at stations.
The West Morris Regional High School District in Morris County also requires students to put their cellphones in caddies that hang along the the wall near the entrance to the classroom.
School district officials in the five school districts agreed – as did Lawrence Township Public School District officials – that cellphones in the classroom are a distraction from learning.
