New PSD cell phone policy reaps rewards
By Terry Murry on Thursday, October 17th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
PENDLETON – Pendleton School District Superintendent Kevin Headings says a difference is already being noticed with the new cell phone policy, barring the devices from classrooms. Cell phones may be used during passing time and students can go to the office if they need to make emergency calls.
Headings said administrators concentrated on the academic rewards the policy could bring. It turns out they are seeing an improvement in another area as well.
“The research shows when students don’t have their cell phones in class they’re able to focus better and think at higher levels,” he said. “We were thinking academically, boosting our students’ learning and instructions, but we have seen a mitigation of a lot of behaviors, especially the extreme assault-type behaviors.”
Headings said it’s believed that some students were using their phones to plan, film, and post fights.
“Those things have gone away,” Headings said. “Not just the videoing, but the amount of fights that we’re having. We’ve seen, both in our middle school and our high school at the same point last year, our fights have been cut in half.”
