Richmond teacher weighs in on potential consequences for school cell phone policy
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A Richmond teacher is sharing her thoughts on the potential consequences of not following the new school cell phone policies. During a scheduled meeting on Monday, Dec. 2, school board members discussed a tiered approach to disciplining students who do not comply: First offense: A verbal warning and documentation by school staff. Second offense: A written warning, parental/caregiver content and the potential temporary confiscation of the involved device. This may require caregiver pick-up, depending on the severity of the offense. Third offense: Disciplinary action, such as restorative room assignment for a class period or for the day, or an out-of-school suspension, depending on the severity or frequency of violations. Their deliberations stem from an executive order issued by Gov. Glenn Youngkin requiring schools to adopt cell phone-related regulations. Huguenot High School English teacher Lisa Delao said these potential rules will hinder students' ability to succeed in school, especially if the first two disciplinary steps don't work. “Cell phones are an issue at the moment,” Delao said. “When I look around my classroom, I see that 80% to 90% of my students are on their phones.” Delao also said students who don't enjoy school already look for a way to get out of class, so a suspension won’t work either. “Students will look for a way to get out of school because they don't enjoy school,” Delao said. “They are dissatisfied with different elements when it comes to school, such as the food, such as the long hours, and the inability to take breaks.” Delao said providing more engaging activities that are fun can keep kids off their devices. “I just had a class where they played games like Taboo and video games together and that creates more opportunities to have them socialize with students that they might normally not socialize with or even with their friends,” Delao said. Delao also said schools planning more in-person educational events would also help students stay off their phones.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A Richmond teacher is sharing her thoughts on the potential consequences of not following the new school cell phone policies.
During a scheduled meeting on Monday, Dec. 2, school board members discussed a tiered approach to disciplining students who do not comply:
- First offense: A verbal warning and documentation by school staff.
- Second offense: A written warning, parental/caregiver content and the potential temporary confiscation of the involved device. This may require caregiver pick-up, depending on the severity of the offense.
- Third offense: Disciplinary action, such as restorative room assignment for a class period or for the day, or an out-of-school suspension, depending on the severity or frequency of violations.
Their deliberations stem from an executive order issued by Gov. Glenn Youngkin requiring schools to adopt cell phone-related regulations.
Huguenot High School English teacher Lisa Delao said these potential rules will hinder students' ability to succeed in school, especially if the first two disciplinary steps don't work.
“Cell phones are an issue at the moment,” Delao said. “When I look around my classroom, I see that 80% to 90% of my students are on their phones.”
Delao also said students who don't enjoy school already look for a way to get out of class, so a suspension won’t work either.
“Students will look for a way to get out of school because they don't enjoy school,” Delao said. “They are dissatisfied with different elements when it comes to school, such as the food, such as the long hours, and the inability to take breaks.”
Delao said providing more engaging activities that are fun can keep kids off their devices.
“I just had a class where they played games like Taboo and video games together and that creates more opportunities to have them socialize with students that they might normally not socialize with or even with their friends,” Delao said.
Delao also said schools planning more in-person educational events would also help students stay off their phones.
