Lockers in the Luxemburg-Casco Middle School. PC: Fox 11 Online
LUXEMBURG, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, even wireless headphones are all items middle school students in the Luxemburg-Casco School District have to live without during the school day. The school has adopted a new policy, making students leave those items in their lockers while they’re in class.
You won’t catch any of the 300 middle school students in the Luxemburg-Casco School District checking their cell phones during class. All personal devices need to stay in their lockers from the first bell, just before 7:40 a.m., until the end of the day at about 3:10 p.m.
The district implementing an “Away for the Day” pilot program, in just the middle school, to start the school year. The idea and research shows teens do better in school when their phones and other devices are put away and not a distraction.
“If they know they are away in their locker, it’s one less thing to check, it’s one less thing to worry about and then they can focus on the business of whatever is happening in the classroom — the teacher instruction, the important conversations that are happening with their peers, that sort of thing,” said middle school principal, Todd Chandler.
The transition, according to students, hasn’t been too bad.
“I feel like it’s way easier for seventh-graders because last year in sixth grade we didn’t have our phone at all,” said Emme Mears.
“Last year we were allowed to have our phones and I was always checking it, I feel like in between classes, but now I can’t. And, it’s not that bad,” said eighth-grader Isabella McGovern.
School officials agree, saying students aren’t looking at the “Away for the Day” program as a punishment. Instead, with more explanation of the why, they’re buying into the idea more and more.
“I’ve been really pleasantly surprised and pleased with the lack of complaining, I guess you could say, from students,” said physical education teacher Justin Tlachac.
While student say they are hearing some pushback from classmates who don’t like to keep their phones in their lockers all day, they are also starting to see the benefits of “Away for the Day.”
“Everyone would sit on their phones and not talk to each other, but now everyone is talking to each other,” McGovern said.
“We’re not thinking about what’s going to be on our phone, oh I’ve got to go check my phone. You’re worried about getting taught, getting your grades up, all the school things that you have to know,” added eighth-grader Grant Seering.
School officials say they’ll be looking at academic achievement, behavioral issues and attitudes, as well as anecdotal evidence throughout the school year to determine the future of the “Away for the Day” program.
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