SPRINGFIELD – Illinois legislation is being worked on that could require school districts to adopt their own wireless communication device policy. It would be a ban on mobile devices during class or instruction time. However, if a district wants, it could allow students to be on their phones during lunch and passing periods with other expectations as well. West of Waubonsie at Hinckley Big Rock, superintendent Dr. Jessica Sonntag says its district is having success with a “no cell phone policy.”
“We have a bell to bell policy,” said Dr. Sonntag. “So from the first Bell to the last bell, our students are not allowed to access their smartphones, smart watches, wireless airpods.”
“It has taken that pressure off to be on all the time,” said Dr. Sonntag. “Whether that’s on with their parents or when kids are snapping and posting things to Instagram or whatever it is throughout the day, they don’t have to live in that emotional space all day anymore. I actually think that some of them felt that initial relief right away.”
“Our hallways are noisier,” said Dr. Sonntag. “Our lunchroom is noisier, but it’s good noisy because kids are talking with each other. It feels more light. It feels brighter. The kids seem happier. The teachers seem less stressed.”
At Waubonsie Valley High School, classrooms have phone pockets where students put their devices during instructional class time. However, that policy is not always followed or consistent throughout the entire school.
“Number one, I think that it’s just so much transition time in and out of the classroom, and number two, they still have them during passing periods. They still have them during lunch,” said Dr. Sonntag.
“From my perspective…these kids…they need our help to regulate their usage while their brains are still developing,” said Dr. Sonntag. “We know that all of these apps were developed to become highly addictive and it’s taking a toll on us. From a parent perspective, I’ve had parents tell me their kids are coming home with their homework done because now they’re utilizing the class time or study hall or lunchtime, and less exhausted, less emotionally exhausted. I think it was a very intense measure that our kids needed to break their addictive pattern.”
Senate Bill 2427 has recently cleared a senate committee but still needs to pass the general assembly.