A True Innovation

Is it possible to turn back the clock, to a time before technology forever changed the world we live in? It turns out that it is possible, at least in schools, and at least for the hours of a school day.

The Sag Harbor School District is in the middle of a great experiment that every local district should be paying close attention to. About a year ago, the district instituted a new policy using a company, Yondr, that makes lockable pouches. As detailed last week, middle and high school students at Pierson must silence their phones and lock them up in the pouch, making them inaccessible until the end of the day, when they’re unlocked.

Other districts in the region have a variety of approaches to limiting cellphone use by students during the school day; some, it’s said, have policies that are for show only, and students still routinely are on their phones throughout the day, both in and out of the classroom. That’s simply not possible at Pierson.

Anecdotally, Pierson’s great experiment appears to be working. Administrators and teachers are thrilled, not surprisingly, but on a visit to the school, watching the kids interact in the lunchroom — not a down-turned face in sight — it’s proof that young people are adaptable, and there is, in fact, a workable way to drag them away from the internet, social media and other distractions during the school day.

If this test run continues to succeed, other school districts have no choice: They have to consider a similar approach that does more than offer lip service to the idea of a phone-free school day.

There is just too much at stake for students. If there are benefits for them, as far as grades, socialization and mental health are concerned, it would be malpractice for other districts not to consider a similarly sweeping elimination of the ubiquitous cellphone.

It’s tempting to consider, say, Dr. Carolyn Probst’s position at Westhampton Beach: that a full ban fails to recognize just how prevalent the use of cellphones has become, even among adults, and it misses the chance to practice self-discipline and moderation for adult work life.

But the positive reviews at Pierson are overwhelming — and intriguing. Not having social media on throughout the day tamps down drama between students, and lets minor issues dissipate, administrators say. Students are more interactive and open, teachers say, in the classroom. Teachers aren’t constantly distracted themselves by having to call out students who are breaking a policy that just isn’t working, and that means less “negative interactions,” as one Pierson teacher put it: “I was always arguing with them. Now I don’t have to do that anymore.”

Credit to Sag Harbor’s educators for being willing to try something truly innovative. Nobody needs to leap into a similar policy without serious consideration of all the issues. But it seems that every other district could benefit from a return to the days before cellphones dominated the school day. As it turns out, such a thing is possible, after all.