In response to the Minnesota Legislature requirement that all public school districts enact a uniform policy on cellphone use by March, the Faribault School Board has adopted a policy embracing almost fully embracing the highly restrictive “Away for the Day” approach.
Led by Dr. Delaney Ruston and the team behind “Screenagers,” a series of documentaries which highlights the severe negative personal and mental health impacts of screen addiction on young people, “Away for the Day” seeks to effectively eliminate cellphone use at school.
Teachers, administrators and activists behind “Away for the Day” say that even when turned off cellphones and other personal electronic devices can have a negative impact on the classroom, and removing their presence can increase focus, improve test scores and boost self-esteem.
Away for the Day recommends that cellphones and devices such as smartwatches not only be switched off but left at home, in lockers or in a secure location in the school. Under the new Faribault Public Schools policy, such devices must be “stored and out of sight” during school.
Superintendent Jamie Bente emphasized that the new policy, required by the Minnesota Legislature, won’t require much change at the elementary and middle school levels, where any cellphone use during the school day has been frowned upon for years.
The tough new policy will now extend to the high school, with a major carveout that will allow FHS students to use cellphones during their lunch hour. That carveout ended up being highly controversial for the Board, with an amendment to remove it failing on a tied vote.
Board Member Jerry Robicheau argued that removing cellphones from Faribault High School’s lunch could ensure that students stay focused all the way through the school day, while encouraging students to take advantage of an opportunity for face to face socialization.
“How can we call it ‘Away for the Day’ if they’re allowed to use it during their lunch hour?” Robicheau asked. “Let’s have the kids engage in conversations and talk to one another.”
Robicheau also argued for the creation of an “Ambassador” program in the lunchroom, in which some students would seek out peers who may be sitting by themselves and talk with them, as a way to boost student morale and build a sense of community.
Board Member Linda Moore offered praise for Robicheau’s position, noting that while she and Robicheau don’t often see eye to eye on issues before the Board, she greatly appreciated his strong, principled stand against cellphone use in school.
Board Vice Chair Chad Wolff, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Chair John Bellingham, countered with the argument that barring cellphone use during lunch would be very difficult to enforce due to the high school’s “open lunch” policy.
Wolff warned that if the Board were to adopt such a strict approach, hundreds of FHS students could go out to their cars to use their cellphones during lunch break, potentially requiring staff to devote immense resources to any serious attempt to enforce the rule.
Board Member Casie Steeves shared Wolff’s concerns, saying while she strongly encourages students to abstain from cellphone use during their lunch break as part of a responsible approach to screen use, a rule could be very difficult to enforce.
The Board split 3-3 on the proposed amendment, with Board Member Lynda Boudreau joining Wolff and Steeves in opposition and Board Member Richard Olson joining Robicheau and Moore in support.
Olson subsequently expressed frustration with the Board’s failure to adopt Robicheau’s amendment, saying he feared that allowing cellphone use during lunch would greatly undermine the entire initiative.
Subsequently, Olson proposed an amendment to tighten up penalties for a second offense to be the same as those for a third or more offense under the policy, which may include not only the return of a device only to a parent or guardian but additional disciplinary action.
Olson argued that one warning under the policy should be more than enough. However, his amendment failed on another tied vote, with the Board breaking down along familiar lines with Boudreau and Moore joining Olson in support and Wolff, Steeves and Robicheau in opposition.
Despite the failure of the Board to adopt either amendment, Moore still voted for the policy’s overall adoption, arguing that it still represented a major change for the students and that it could be modified and improved over time.
Boudreau cited data from a study in Norway which highlighted the potential gains of removing cellphone use from the classroom. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health reported that after banning cellphones from 400 Middle Schools, psychological visits among girls fell by 60% and reported bullying incidents fell by 46% among girls and 43% among boys.
“I think this important data and hopefully maybe we can see academic improvements from this policy,” Boudreau said.
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