Monongalia County students will no longer have smartphone access during the school day

MONONGALIA COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Monongalia County Schools has announced that students will no longer have access to devices such as smartphones throughout the school day.

All Monongalia County students from Grade 6 to Grade 12 will now be required to lock all smartphones in a YONDR pouch throughout the day, while elementary school students will turn off their devices and store them in their classroom throughout the day.

The new policy is being implemented as a means of minimizing distraction and providing the best possible learning environment for students, according to a recent announcement.

A YONDR pouch is a container which locks using a magnet and will allow students to unlock them to access their devices at the conclusion of the school day. Administrators and teachers will be able to unlock the YONDR pouches on an as-needed basis for classroom use.

The YONDR pouches used will be the property of Monongalia County schools, and any damage to a student’s pouch will be met with a $35 replacement fee.

In response to concerns from parents with regard to reaching their child during the school day, Monongalia County Schools has advised that they get in touch with the student through the main office of the student’s school.

“We want our students to be engaged in their learning. If you need to contact your child during the school day, contact your school’s main office,” said Monongalia County Schools of the smartphone access restriction.

Responses from members of the public with regard to the announcement ranged from agreement to frustration. Some remarked that students were able to effectively function for decades without smartphones in schools, while others note the changing times and a need for students to be able to coordinate with one another as well as their families outside the school.

Some also argued that teachers and administrators should also be beholden to the restriction, making note that many issues can arise within schools as a result of inattentive faculty members distracted by smartphone devices in their own right.